Denied a family, he left priesthood

Cincinnati Enquirer ^ | May 02, 2004 | Dan Horn

[wagglebee]

Every Christian denomination but Catholicism allows marraige. Nobody ever became a Catholic priest thinking that marraige would ever be allowed. Why should we feel sorry for this guy?

[DameAutour]

I am genuinely curious.

In my religion, if someone in a position of authority does something like molest a child, they are stripped of their authority, shunned (excommunicated), and even if they repent and come back they can never be in a position of authority again.

I understand that you can't be a priest and get married. But I don't see the consistency when priests who molest children can still be priests. I thought I understood it because they are "called" by God, so once you are a priest you are always technically a priest, even if you are assigned to do other things. But marriage is such a sin you aren't a priest anymore? Is the priesthood created by God or the church? That's what I don't understand.

[Bluntpoint]

"Better dead than wed!!!"

[sinkspur]

And BTW, there has been an across the board decline in vocations in all faiths; this is true for those who allow marriage.

That is not true. There is a shortage in rural congregations, but, as you know, in many Protestant denominations, the congregations call the pastor. There is absolutely no shortage of men willing to serve in Protestant Churches where families can be supported.

Ministry is hard, period. Not unlike many other vocations and lifestyles.

[Conservative til I die]

No. You can be defrocked. Or you can leave the priesthood.

[onyx]

But marriage is such a sin you aren't a priest anymore?





Where are you getting it is a sin?

[sinkspur]

Does God's "call" no longer count since he got married? Is marriage enough to strip you of your priesthood, but pedophilia not?

Actually, marriage does not strip a priest of his priesthood, as long as he doesn't seek laicization.

If a priest is laicized, he is essentially reduced to the lay state (laicization is only granted by JP II in cases of sexually abusive priests).

However, I know of five cases of priests in Dallas and Fort Worth where the priests left the priesthood, married civilly, divorced at some point, and Rome has granted every single one of them the right to come back to the priesthood.

However, laicized priests, who sought the proper route so they could marry in the Church, will never be given the right to exercise priestly ministry.

In fact, in some dioceses, laicized priests can do nothing in parishes. That means no RCIA teaching, no lectoring, no Eucharistic Minister, no Engaged Couple ministry.

No nothing. They're outcasts.

[MissAmericanPie]

The Catholic Church flies in the face of scriptures regarding the type of leader a flock is suppose to have. A man of good reputation, married to one wife, with his children under control.

I don't see how they can give advice about family life, never having experienced it.

[DameAutour]

What happens if someone gets married but does not leave the priesthood? Has this ever happened? Has there ever been a priest who still claimed the "calling", even after marriage?

[Conservative til I die]

I would guess he'd be thrown out since he's breaking his vow of celibacy, a vow made to and before God. Not exactly something to take lightly.

[DameAutour]

So if someone does not seek laicization, and gets married, he is still a priest?

[sinkspur]

But marriage is such a sin you aren't a priest anymore?

It is a sin, since a priest takes a vow of celibacy.

However, across the aisle, in the Eastern Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, fully in union with Rome, married men are ordained.

And, even in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and even Methodist ministers can, and have been, ordained, families and all. We have 200 here in the States, and there are over 500 in the UK.

And, 20,000 men have become permanent deacons over the last 24 years here in the U.S., the vast majority of them married.

So, you have the conundrum of a large percentage of the Catholic population being served by married clerics; which population has no problem with the marital status of these men, versus the continued insistence by Rome that only celibates are called to the clergy, when that is clearly not the case.

[DameAutour]

I would guess he'd be thrown out since he's breaking his vow of celibacy, a vow made to and before God. Not exactly something to take lightly.

Okay. Well that's why I called it a sin. It is viewed as sinful for a priest to marry, so sinful he will be thrown out.

And by the way, I am not disputing the right of the Catholic Church to set its own rules. If they say their priests must be celibate, anyone entering the priesthood knows this. I can understand a man feeling the need to marry, but I assume Catholics believe God can help him overcome this temptation.

But you have brought up another question. Is not having sex breaking the vow of celibacy? Does this include sex with children? I am back to wondering why pedophile priests are not "thrown out". Someone who breaks his vow to God should no longer be a priest.

[Antoninus]

Yawn. Same cr@p, different day. If married priests were the answer, the Orthodox wouldn't be having problems with vocations--which they are.

The key to fostering vocations is for the bishops to remain faithful to the authentic teachings of the Church. Those dioceses which have faithful, orthodox, energetic bishops have no vocations problems. The ones with the problems are the ones with the namby-pamby, "spirit of Vatican II" types.

[sinkspur]

So if someone does not seek laicization, and gets married, he is still a priest?

Yes. And, even a laicized priest retains the power of Holy Orders.

So, in case of extreme emergency, a laicized priest can hear a confession and administer the Sacrament of the Sick.

[DameAutour]

However, across the aisle, in the Eastern Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, fully in union with Rome, married men are ordained.

Why is the Catholic Church divided like this? I can kind of understand allowing ministers who were formerly of other churches and married to be ordained. But it seems like a matter of principle that Catholic priests can't marry. Yet you are saying that some Catholic priests can marry? It seems a married priest isn't so bad, although I agree breaking your vow to God is bad.

I fear I'm getting in over my head. I don't know about or understand all of the different sects in the Catholic Church. If some Catholic priests are allowed to marry (I am referring to the Eastern rite ones you mentioned), why not all?

[Antoninus]

That puts the lie to the argument that Catholic men are not willing to serve the Church.

Sure, they're willing to serve the Church--on their own terms. Their just not willing to devote their whole lives to Christ.

[DameAutour]

Thank you sinkspur, you have answered my question. A priest can get married and still be a priest.

The Catholic Church is consistent in this regard, when it comes to the comparison with pedophile priests.

[Bluntpoint]

But you have brought up another question. Is not having sex breaking the vow of celibacy? Does this include sex with children? I am back to wondering why pedophile priests are not "thrown out". Someone who breaks his vow to God should no longer be a priest.

Hitting the nail on the head!

[Antoninus]

I don't see how they can give advice about family life, never having experienced it.

Hey good point. Do they really grow priests in test-tubes now?