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To: Alexander Rubin
I thought Catholic priests were celibate for life.

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.

8 posted on 04/23/2007 7:07:13 PM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Campion

Ah, I see. So presumably the Church is ok with that? Neato. How do other priests feel about the special treatment? I’m curious because I didn’t know the Catholic Church made any exceptions for this kind of thing.


10 posted on 04/23/2007 7:22:34 PM PDT by Alexander Rubin (Octavius - You make my heart glad building thus, as if Rome is to be eternal.)
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To: Campion

I would think he would have to maintain abstinence?


19 posted on 04/24/2007 9:33:08 AM PDT by franky1
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