Married priests sidestep Catholic church's celibacy stance

Orlando Sentinel ^ | November 5, 2005 | Jack Broom

[NYer]

One is a psychotherapist. Another is a retired travel agent. A third sells medical equipment.

But Sean Patrick O'Reilly, Ralph Bastian and John Shuster share an additional identity: Each is an ordained Catholic priest.

Each has left the Roman Catholic Church as an organization, but still -- without official church approval -- maintains a type of ministry.

"I checked out of the institution. I left the system. But I never left the church," says Shuster, 54, who lives in Port Orchard, Wash. To him, the "church" is the faithful, not the authority in Rome.

[NYer]

John & Sally Shuster

[NYer]

Shuster, who is married, spends most of his time on his current occupation, traveling from Alaska to California selling and servicing emergency-room equipment. But he still performs occasional weddings and other services, including hosting an annual Christmas Mass at his home for about 30 people.

"People come in. We sing carols. I get some pita bread and wine and have my chalice. I dress in my vestments. It's like the old midnight Mass Catholics used to go to."

When I was 6, a group of us would gather at a neighbor's house. We would get some Ritz crackers and Welch's grape juice, dress up like priests and nuns and celebrate the Mass. It was just like the old midnight Mass our parents used to go to.

[Ken522]

All the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church have reaffirmed the necessity that priests remain celebate, no exceptions - these married fellows are protestants: They have broken their vows with the Roman Catholic Church.

[Rodney King]

Each is an ordained Catholic priest.

Is that factually correct, or is it more accurate to say that each WAS an ordained Catholic Priest?

[jec1ny]

Once a priest always a priest. The sacrament of Holy Orders can not be undone. It would be fair to say that they are not in communion with the church though.

[jec1ny]

"All the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church have reaffirmed the necessity that priests remain celebate, no exceptions - these married fellows are protestants: They have broken their vows with the Roman Catholic Church."

That is not actually correct. The requirement of celibacy is something that did not come around until fairly late in the first millennium. Prior to that it was optional. In the Eastern Catholic Churches celibacy remains optional to this day. Also there are married priests in the Latin (Roman) rite of the the church even today. Most are former Anglicans clergy who were married and re-ordianed into the Catholic priesthood with a special dispensation.

[blaise]

All the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church have reaffirmed the necessity that priests remain celebate, no exceptions - these married fellows are protestants: They have broken their vows with the Roman Catholic Church.

My neighbor grew up in Malta. The parrish priests (Roman Catholic) were all married. So it isn't a universal requirement within the Church.

[x5452]

They aren't Roman Catholics if they've left the Roman Catholic church.

[x5452]

I personally don't agree with the need for a vow of celibacy or unmarried priest, being Eastern Orthodox, however knowing that was the law of the Roman Church these folks joined the priesthood and took their vows. Failing to uphold that is aweful, and they have chosen to remove themselves from the church. I'd say they're worse than protestants in that they should know better.

[NYer]

My neighbor grew up in Malta. The parrish priests (Roman Catholic) were all married. So it isn't a universal requirement within the Church.

Oh yes it is, in the Latin Church. Perhaps your neighbor was a member ot an Eastern Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is both Western and Eastern. As most of us realize, the Church began in the East. Our Lord lived and died and resurrected in the Holy Land. The Church spread from Jerusalem throughout the known world. As the Church spread, it encountered different cultures and adapted, retaining from each culture what was consistent with the Gospel. In the city of Alexandria, the Church became very Egyptian; in Antioch it remained very Jewish; in Rome it took on an Italian appearance and in Constantinople it took on the trappings of the Roman imperial court. All the churches which developed this way were Eastern, except Rome. Most Catholics in the United States have their roots in Western Europe where the Roman rite predominated. It has been said that the Eastern Catholic Churches are "the best kept secret in the Catholic Church."

The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15). Pope John Paul II said that "the Catholic Church is both Eastern and Western."

Check your local community at the following link and look into attending an Eastern Catholic Liturgy (not to be confused with the Orthodox Church).

Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.

The Eastern Catholic Rites retain the rich heritage of our church, without the "novelties" introduced into the Novus Ordo liturgy. Incense is used throughout.

I attend a Maronite Catholic Church. The Consecration is in Aramaic, using the words and language of our Lord at the Last Supper. Communion is ONLY distributed by the priest. It is by intinction (the priest dips the consecrated host into the Precious Blood) and is ONLY received on the tongue. The priest administers communion with the words: "The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to you for the remission of sin and eternal salvation".

A Roman Catholic may attend the Divine Liturgy at any Eastern Catholic Church. You can learn more about the 22 different liturgies at this link:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

[Forest Keeper]

The requirement of celibacy is something that did not come around until fairly late in the first millennium.

True. Since I am not a Catholic I am hesitant to post on these threads, but might I note that Peter was married?

[Kolokotronis]

"When I was 6, a group of us would gather at a neighbor's house. We would get some Ritz crackers and Welch's grape juice, dress up like priests and nuns and celebrate the Mass. It was just like the old midnight Mass our parents used to go to."

That's just wonderful, NYer!!!!!! I can just see it! LOL

[saradippity]

Yes,you may note that Peter WAS married. Whether he was married at the tme Jesus selected him is not known. It is probable that h's wife had predeceased his mother=in=law.

[red irish]

The point is that a priest takes a vow. In our parish one of our priests had an affair with a MARRIED WOMAN and had a child. There are very many married people as well who take vows. For me I always believed it was pretty serious to take a vow, be it to God and his church or to God and your HUSBAND OR WIFE. A few years back there was a study done with a group of protestant faiths about the high rate of divoice and their pastors leaving the church. they interviewd the pastors and their wives. It seems as though the wives became tired of being second to everything of the church. And then the pastors just got tired of dividing his time. Some were just unfaithful because of being lonely or struggling with money all kinds of things. The rate of those pastors leaving was about 1500 a month across the board of different faiths. Ever since then I have listened to Rome with a different ear. What the church needs is a cleansing. Just today I received a letter from the Marian Helpers from Mass. asking for donations for their vocations. For so many years I have tried to send money to them and they send me notes on the progress of the seminarians. The last two years I have not been able due to severe loss of income. These are good priests dedicated to our blessed mother and Eucharistic Lord. Then again the priesthood is doing well in different places. Especially in Africa. For the US it seems the more orthodox parish is doing ok with vocations. I am by no means an expert on anything. But what I want, I mean I pray for holy priests. Priest who is dedicated to god above all else. For now I will listen to Rome and pray alot.

[saradippity]

A little advice---don't take any tests on the information about when celibacy became a requirement for priests of the Latin Rite of the Roman CAtholic Church.

The information about the end of the first millennium is not correct. It is too complicated to try to explain it in a short period of time but just don't take any tests on the issue unless you don't care if you don't get all the answers right.

[x5452]

Still he didn't make a practice of breaking promises to the Lord.

[SpringheelJack]

The information about the end of the first millennium is not correct. It is too complicated to try to explain it in a short period of time but just don't take any tests on the issue unless you don't care if you don't get all the answers right.

What's complicated about it? If the question is when it became a requirement it should be a very simple answer.

[Forest Keeper]

It is probable that his wife had predeceased his mother-in-law.

Why do you think that is probable? Also, how would you reconcile Paul's statement of right in 1 Co 9:5 - "Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as DO THE OTHER APOSTLES AND THE LORD'S BROTHERS AND CEPHAS?"? (emphasis added) I don't mean to start a flame war, I am just honestly asking.

[SpringheelJack]

Yes,you may note that Peter WAS married. Whether he was married at the tme Jesus selected him is not known. It is probable that h's wife had predeceased his mother=in=law.

Don't see where you get that. Ever read 1 Corinthians 9:5?

[Accygirl]

And it wasn't really enforced until the Counter-Reformation in the 16th century. The Renaissance Popes were notorious for having affairs and using their mistresses' children as political pawns.