Virginity for priesthood

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Patricklloyd

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Is it possible for a man to become priest even if he previously lived a life that was in sin, such as premarital sex, etc…?
 
Yes. I know little of the actual process, but I imagine when they interview you they will try to discern that you are ready now, though, so they may look for serious evidence and commitment to reform of behavior and Christian living.
 
St. Augustine fathered a son outside marriage. He and his son were later baptized by St. Ambrose. Augustine was ordained four years later.
 
Quite right about this, but I would point out that while this tells us something of the essential nature of the priesthood (namely that virginity does not render a man necessarily incapable of receiving orders), it doesn’t say anything of current legal requirements or of standards of evaluating candidates. This borders on the argument that people will use for why priests should no longer be celibate, since in the early Church they weren’t. What’s important is the current framework of how the Church either administers things from a canonical standpoint, or else puts into practice the admission of candidates for ordination.

Under current law, of course, there is no prohibition against a man who has at some point engaged in sexual activity entering priestly formation and being admitted to orders. But it is possible that in the admissions process, one’s sexual history could prove to be problematic if it still carried with it certain kinds of issues that the candidate needed to address appropriately before entering into ministry.

-Fr ACEGC
 
I know at least two priest that talk about this openly and use their life as a way to teach about God’s love and forgiveness
 
CilladeRoma said:
Virginity is not required for the priesthood. Chastity and celibacy are.
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Celibacy is required of a Catholic priest in many of the Catholic Church’s, but not all. Married priests are welcome in the Byzantine Rite for example. It could be welcome in the Latin Rite too if the Church decides to alter the discipline/rule… the rule of celibate priests is not a doctrine or dogma, instead a discipline
 
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Yes, many saints lived a life of sin prior to coming to Christ. I’m a young man discerning religious life/priesthood and I pray I will not be torn down by the youthful desires. Then again, I will never lose my virginity because I never lose.
 
I wonder if the majority of priests are virgins? I suppose the likelihood depends on when they joined the priesthood.
 
Patricklloyd said:
Is it possible for a man to become priest even if he previously lived a life that was in sin, such as premarital sex, etc…?
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Yes. I know several priests who entered the priesthood after being away from the church and breaking the rules in this area.
Realistically if virginity were a requirement for priesthood in this day and age we’d have much fewer seminarians.
 
agreed, celibacy is a form of purity of mind body and soul, it is a gift that you give t God,
also, it is a Sacrament, and it requires your full devotion to your ministry,
just like in marriage, a husband, gives his wife his all, (suppose to) and a wife does the same, together, with the help of God, they give all their devotion and lives to their children, so with Priesthood, the same applies, you give God everything,
and yes, even those who are not called to the Priesthood, should give thier all in everything.
God Bless you all
 
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