Posted on 03/01/2014 4:51:07 AM PST by Gamecock
Wissam Akiki is a Catholic priest and a married man.
The pews were packed Thursday (Feb. 27) as Akiki became the first married man in the Maronite Catholic Church ordained into the priesthood in the United States with the blessing of the pope.
Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, which is based in St. Louis, led the ordination ceremony held at St. Raymond’s Maronite Cathedral.
Manal Kassab, who has been married to Akiki for about a decade, and their daughter, Perla, 8, were also present.
Akiki had been a deacon at St. Raymond’s since 2009 and worked as the assistant to the bishop.
The Maronite Catholic Church, with roots in Lebanon and the Middle East, is part of a larger group of 22 Catholic churches belonging to the Eastern rite. Unlike the Orthodox Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic churches recognize the authority of the pope and are in communion with Rome.
In Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere, many Eastern Catholic priests are married, but since the 1920s the practice has generally been banned in the U.S.
Eastern Catholic churches that have sought to ordain a married man for priestly ministry in the U.S. have typically petitioned Rome for permission, though until recently, the Vatican response has usually been a resounding “no.”
Some wonder whether opening up priestly ordination to married men in the Eastern rite will swing the doors open for Roman Catholic men.
Adam Deville, a professor at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind., who focuses on the Christian East, said the Maronite Church has traditionally taken a conservative stance on the issue of married priests in the U.S. and sees Akiki’s ordination as momentous.
It’s like conservative Republican politician Rick Santorum’s coming out in favor of gay marriage, Deville said.
The Maronite Church is “the most conservative and the least willing to rock the boat on this question,” said Deville. “If they can do it, anyone can do it.”
Ines Angeli Murzaku, a professor of church history in the Department of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, agreed that the ordination is significant but added that she doesn’t think the move is “breathtaking and would mean an immediate lift of the ban.”
“It seems to me that the pope is responding … on a case-by-case basis,” she said.
In the early centuries of Christianity, it was common for priests to be married, though churches in both the East and West have always valued celibacy.
Over time it became the norm for priests in the West to remain unmarried, though that tradition never took hold in Eastern churches. Catholic bishops, whether part of the Eastern or Latin rite, however, have always been expected to remain celibate, as are unmarried men who already serve as priests.
Some argue that the Roman Catholic Church has been reluctant to ordain married men for the priesthood not solely for theological reasons — such as the argument that an unwed priest is more like Jesus Christ himself — but for practical reasons as well.
Dragani of Mount Aloysius College, for example, pointed out that priests are often moved around like chess pieces so they can care for different parishes, which can complicate married life. Supporting married Catholic priests is also more expensive.
There is, however, a little-known pastoral provision, created by Pope John Paul II in 1980, which has allowed married Episcopal priests to enter ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. Still, married Roman Catholic priests are the exception rather than the rule.
Akiki, for his part, said that without his family his ordination would not have been possible.
Although a married presbyteriate and diaconate are allowed in Eastern Churches, the episcopate must all be celibate. (The following is the part that I want to get verified by NYer) To my understanding, the reason for this is that taking monastic vows, including celibacy, is a requirement for being elected to the episcopate.
You are absolutely correct. It is also my understanding that married priests (in the Maronite Church), serve in an auxiliary capacity. Here in the US, the Maronite Church, like the Latin Church, suffers from a shortage of priests. To resolve this problem, the bishops have an agreement with a monastic community of missionaries in Lebanon whereby they solicit volunteers from their community to serve for a 10 year term in the US or other country. All of these priests are celibate.
The situation at St. Raymond’s Maronite Cathedral is also quite unique. The newly ordained priest is Lebanese (hence, he grew up in a culture where married priests serve), he previously (to his marriage) attended Holy Spirit University in Lebanon and Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in Washington DC. He and his wife have been married for 10 years and he has served at the Cathedral in the capacity of a deacon. This is a very large parish and probably places a great strain on one priest. Essentially, all of the elements normally applied in the Maronite tradition for a deacon to be ordained, were present in this particular situation. Perhaps that is why Pope Francis approved it, without lifting the rule for celibate priests.
Keep in mind that regardless of which Eastern Church, the sequence of vows is followed. Hence, a married man ordained a priest, must place his marriage vow first. For that reason, a celibate priest serves in the position of pastor. That is my understanding. Hope this clarifies the matter.
“Catholics are always hypocritically accusing non-Catholics of having a profusion of differing theologies and denominations, when the Catholic Church is no different.”
This isn’t about theology. Also, we have no denominations. We have Churches. There’s a difference.
all of the people of different “theologies and denominations” within the Catholic Church can pray together and take communion together and profess a common creed together. I don’t think all the Protestant denominations do that.
This?
http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct24.html
CANON X. -If any one saith, that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema.
I don't know of any Evangelical churches that restrict partaking of communion to members only.
I don’t know of any Evangelical churches that restrict partaking of communion to members only.
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod endorses closed communion.
Ok. And the rest of the “30,000”?
Is that Evangelical anyway?
Nevertheless, non-Catholics are free to celebrate communion in other churches.
The implication and contention that it is unique to Catholicism and an indicator of the superiority of the Catholic faith in its alleged unity, is disingenuous.
CANON X. -If any one saith, that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema.
I don't understand what your point is.
Both Jesus and St. Paul commend celibacy, and would be in agreement with this canon, wouldn't they?
So... What are you trying to say about the topic of the thread?
Bishops have always been celibate, in all Catholic Rites, AFAIK. Both celibate men, and men married prior to ordination, have been admitted to the priesthood to varying degrees, in all Rites, since the earliest times.
There are even some married priests in the Latin ("Roman") Rite today. Most are Anglican priests who converted.
I was merely responding to your “I don’t know of any Evangelical churches that restrict partaking of communion to members only.” LCMS restricts partaking of communion. Whether other Evangelical churches restrict communion, I do not know.
I believe Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is evangelical.
I agree that shared communion is not unique to Catholicism. What is unique is the full union among the 22 Catholic Churches under the authority of the Pope. This is different from the independent authority that individual bodies within the Lutheran church, or the Methodist church, or other churches have.
I do not see this as any kind of superiority, however. It’s just the way that different churches have decided best works for them.
They’ve always been able to be married and become a Maronite priest. Nothing to see here, move along.
The novelty is that this gentleman was ordained and will serve in the United States, rather than in Lebanon.
But he’s no different than other married priest from another faith that becomes Catholic. Their wife comes with them.
It has always been that way. If she dies he can not get married again.
Correct.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.