Catholic ping for my Catholic FRiends. Although, I don’t understnad what’s going on. Can one of you explain it to me?
I thought Catholic priests were celibate for life.
There have been many converts from the Episcopalian and Anglican Church to Catholicism in the recent years.
They are “grandgathered” in as a priest after taking Catholic Theology course, etc. and are ordained as a Catholic priest.
I believe our Archdiocese has two. They do NOT always have an Anglican Use parish.
There have been several threads about these converts becoming priests — this is not the first one.
No clerics -- deacons, priests, or bishops -- in either the Catholic or the Eastern Orthodox churches are permitted to marry after ordination.
Neither Catholics nor Eastern Orthodox ordain married men as bishops. Both ordain married men as deacons.
Almost without exception, the Latin Rite of the Catholic church (to which about 99% of Catholics belong) also does not ordain married men to the priesthood. Since they aren't married before ordination and can't marry afterwards, they're celibate -- unmarried.
However, what this article is talking about is an exception to the rules that allows married men who were previously Protestant clergymen (especially Anglicans) to be ordained to the priesthood in the Latin Rite. So, no, he's not celibate now, and won't be after his ordination.
Alexander, you know what I like about you? Well, I like a lot of things! But one of the biggies is, that when something puzzles you about somebody else’s religion, you ask an honest question.
Lots of people around here would just give it a hoot and a sneer, and let it go at that.
But an honest question, like yours, makes it possible for decent, intelligent, respectful discussion to occur.
Refreshing! What a concept! Thanks, and a tip o’ the hat to you.