Posted on 07/26/2008 1:30:09 PM PDT by NYer
p>For the first time in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s history, a married Roman Catholic priest with children will be serving the faithful in southeastern Wisconsin.
Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan asked his priests and deacons this week which of them would be willing to accept the man - a former Lutheran minister - as an associate pastor at their parish.
The priest and his wife, who have juvenile and adult sons, are moving from the Diocese of Venice, Fla. She has accepted a job here.
Although no married priest has served here, about 100 married priests have been ordained in the United States since the late Pope John Paul II created an exception in 1980 that allows married Lutheran and Anglican or Episcopal priests who have converted to Roman Catholicism to become priests, Dolan wrote in a letter to priests and deacons this week.
The priest, Father Michael Scheip, entered Catholicism in 1988 and was ordained in 1993 for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., by now-retired Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., Dolan's letter says.
Dolan welcomes Scheip and his family and is working on a placement for him, archdiocesan spokeswoman Julie Wolf said Friday afternoon.
In his letter, which some priests received via e-mail on Thursday and others in regular postal deliveries Friday, Dolan says Scheip asked to be considered for a pastoral assignment here. His wife, Mary, has accepted a position at a Waukesha company, and his sons are enrolled in Catholic schools for the fall term, the letter says.
"I have spoken with Father Scheip, and he has met with the vicar (Father Curt Frederick, vicar for clergy) and we were both impressed with his sincerity," Dolan writes. "He comes with a genuine desire to be of service to the church here in Milwaukee. . . . I am writing to you to elicit your help in welcoming Father Scheip to the archdiocese. Would any of you be willing to accept his service to your parish as an associate pastor? How can I, as your archbishop, be of help to you and to your people in this regard?"
Many of the married Protestant priests who have become Roman Catholic priests were Episcopalians. Pope John Paul II's granting of the exception for converted, married clergy came after a significant number of Episcopal ministers and their parishioners converted to Catholicism after the Episcopal church decided to ordain women, a church law professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., told the Journal Sentinel in 2003.
The arrival of a married priest is expected to raise questions among the estimated 680,000 or more Catholics in the 10-county archdiocese. Not only are they accustomed to the Western church's requirement of celibacy for priests, which went into effect in the 11th century, they also have been dealing with parish mergers and other effects of a worsening priest shortage.
In his letter, Dolan says area Catholics will need catechesis, or religious education - especially in whatever parish Scheip is assigned - and he provides as an attachment a series of questions and answers that the archdiocesan chancery office prepared.
The first question is: "We were always taught that married men could not be ordained Catholic priests. How is it possible that we could have a married Catholic priest here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee?"
The answer notes that celibacy has never been required of priests in the church's Eastern rite, though it is practiced universally in the West.
"Although it is highly valued, Pope Paul VI states that celibacy 'is not, of course, required by the nature of the priesthood itself. This is clear from the practice of the early church and the traditions of the Eastern rite churches,' " the answer says. "Much has been said about practical reasons for celibacy, such as giving the parish priest more time to dedicate to the children of God, etc. When all is said and done, however, we must understand it as a powerful sign of the presence of the kingdom of God. It is not essential to the priesthood, but it is a radical witness to the reign of Christ in the world."
Wolf had no biographical information available about Scheip, including what branch of Lutheranism he came from.
The St. Petersburg Times of Florida reported in June 2005 that the Scheips have five sons, then ages 9 to 21. The feature story describes the priest's arrival at home after leaving St. Patrick Catholic Church in the Sarasota area.
"He unhooks his priestly collar as he enters the house," the story says. "Sophie the boxer erupts in barks, and Scheip's three boys, those still living at home, gather around. 'How's vacation?' Scheip says as he is enveloped by the noise of the family room TV."
Scheip, who wears secular clothes when he goes out with his wife, plays a Washburn electric guitar at family rock 'n' roll jam sessions in the home, with one son playing bass and another drums, the story says.
Whoa - pathetic and ignorant?
I never made any comparison of the Catholic Church and it’s liability in this area compared to any other Church, Protestant or otherwise. I’d hardly be bragging about marginal differences between Churches on this count.
An American Mother wrote in reply: "No, not true. We worship God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever, as we affirm in the Nicene Creed every Sunday."
Yes. We do. I think 'marajade' was speaking about the Church as a governing body. To which I agree. The "Church" (Rome and its Cardinals and Bishops) which make what amounts to a corporation is a far cry from the local church and its congregation.
You’re understanding of my post was correct. Thanks.
No. But why recite it at every service? Its what’s in the heart and how one chooses to live that matters.
The Cardinal in question is the Maronite patriarch of Antioch, in Syria. The Maronite Catholic Church has had married priests for centuries. They live among the Melkite Catholics and Antiochene Orthodox, and practically Melkite and Orthodox priests are married.
So, in other words, there's nothing "fatuous" about it. Cardinal Sfeir has forgotten more about married priests than you or I know.
What does it sum up? That the cardinal is making things up? Christ was not a priest. He is the Son of God. Equating the two is pure sophistry.
Christ is the high priest of the new covenant. Hebrews makes that perfectly clear.
It caused tensions at a parish in Texas. The lifelong Catholic priest wanted to be married, and resented the fact that the new priest was married. The lifelong Catholic eventually married his girlfriend and now leads services at a local school.
Well, for one thing, their whole career has been spent in the clergy, and they need to support their families.
IMHO, isn't that a disservice to Roman Catholic priests who are not allowed to be married?
Not really. The church can ordain whom she wishes. Note that, if one of these married priests should be widowed, he is not permitted to remarry and remain in the active ministry.
Envy of another's lot is fraught with peril. Fulfilling one's duties generally is the better choice.
How do you know it doesn't belong in the NT between II and III John?
The Bible existed before the Nicene Creed.
And how do you know which books belong in it?
So, in other words, there's nothing "fatuous" about it. Cardinal Sfeir has forgotten more about married priests than you or I know.
The very first sentence in post #9 invalidates your premise. Nyer's post makes it very clear that there is a difference. Hence, the Cardinal cannot have anything to base his claim.
You are most welcome.
I agree with you on the Nicene Creed as well.
Let me try and follow what you're saying.
Cardinal Sfeir says that married priests solve some problems but create others.
You say that's "fatuous" and he has "nothing upon which to base his claim" because "there are no married priests".
I point out that Cdl. Sfeir comes from a church which has married priests itself, and which has, as near neighbors, churches which have even more married priests. Therefore, the claim that Cardinal Sfeir's opinion is unfounded because "there are no married priests" is nonsense.
You respond by quoting NYer's point that divorce is more common in the West, therefore married priests in the West are more likely to divorce, and that's a problem.
So not only are there the problems with married priests Cdl. Sfeir knows about, but, as NYer notes, there are even more problems. That strengthens the Cardinal's argument and weakens yours.
Blah, blah, blah, we’ve heard it before, we’ve answered it before, people can believe what they want in ignorance or learn the theology of the Catholic Church but until they do they just sound clueless.
Archdiocese of Portland, OR has two married priests.
The Anglican priests, already married, are grandfathered in after completing all the Catholic theology, history, etc. classes.
To which I replied in my post #20. that his claims are fatuous based on what happens in the eastern religions. There is no basis for study in the west.
Again, "First of all, there is a big difference between west and east. More than 50% of marriages in the west end in divorce. This is not so in the east. For a married priest to divorce would be scandal for Catholics."
Why would it necessarily be different for western priests? How can you extrapolate something that has no basis in study in the west?
I point out that Cdl. Sfeir comes from a church which has married priests itself, and which has, as near neighbors, churches which have even more married priests. Therefore, the claim that Cardinal Sfeir's opinion is unfounded because "there are no married priests" is nonsense.
You want it both ways. He comes from the east and not the west and yet YOU discount the claim by NYer that the there is a "big" difference between the two.
So not only are there the problems with married priests Cdl. Sfeir knows about, but, as NYer notes, there are even more problems. That strengthens the Cardinal's argument and weakens yours.
If you read my reasoning in #20 you will see that the claims of "problems" have never been proven nor can they be until the Church tries having married priests.
I guess it's better to have priests having sex with parishioners than their wives to the purists.
Father Larry Blake, a former Lutheran minister who is now a Roman Catholic priest, spoke about the challenges posed by these demands, in the following interview. Please take a few minutes to read it. Perhaps it will clarify what we have been trying to impress upon you.
Married Priests Back Celibacy (Part 1 of 2)
In quoting Cardinal Sfeir, you either missed an important statement he made.
Celibacy, in fact, is “the most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church ...
He cited the same conflicts as Fr. Blake:
The priest’s duty to care for his wife and children, ensure their education and oversee their entry into society are among the problems Cardinal Sfeir mentioned.
Celibacy is based on Scripture. 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 , Matthew 19:29 , Matthew 19:10-12 . The Catechism of the Catholic Church frames this quite beautifully.
1579. "All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate 'for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.' [Mt 19:12 .] Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to 'the affairs of the Lord,' [1 Cor 7:32 .] they give themselves entirely to God and to men. celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church's minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God. [Cf. PO 16.]"
The only thing consistent in your posts is the vacuum atop your shoulders
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