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To: MeganC

There is going to be a meeting of bishops from the Amazon area of Brazil to allow mature married men to become priests. It is coming.


25 posted on 08/21/2018 5:05:59 PM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: Biggirl

In my opinion, the money spigot has to be turned off first. As long as the corrupt hierarchy is getting the money from faithful Catholics, there’s no reason for them to care what you think.

It may be too late for that; I don’t know.

And I don’t know what would happen to parishes that refuse to send any money higher up.


30 posted on 08/21/2018 5:46:57 PM PDT by Luircin
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To: Biggirl; MeganC
Well, there's no absolute theological reason against it: celibacy is not an intrinsic element of the sacrament of Holy Orders. I could see it in terms of our married deacons advancing to the priesthood.

It's hard to imagine how it would work in U.S. parishes, though. Men being ordained today tend to be older than in previous generations and have frequently earned a college degree and/or spent time in the labor force or a career before entering the seminary; the average age at ordination is now 35, and starting salary at a parish averages under $20,000.

It would be hard for a middle-aged man with a family to make it on that salary. It might work out if the wife is also bringing in a salary or if they don't have many kids.

There would be a big temptation to use contraception, I suppose, and that's not OK for anyone. There's always NFP!

It might be entirely otherwise in the Amazon, partly for cultural reasons and partly for economic reasons. If they decide to go this route, it would be interesting to say the least.

A number of years ago,the late Bishop Samuel Ruiz in very impoverished NE Brazil wanted to upgrade hundreds of catechists to be deacons and have deacon-led parishes. I don't know much about the background, but the Vatican slapped him down on this. I never understood why.

34 posted on 08/22/2018 9:40:19 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts." - Sgt. Joe Friday)
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