Posted on 09/10/2007 12:16:21 PM PDT by NYer
The 52-year-old husband, father and former Episcopal priest weighs it every day as he considers ordination to the Catholic priesthood after leaving a church he felt was in turmoil.
The little-known Pastoral Provision of the Catholic Church, approved by Pope John Paul II in 1980, permits former male Episcopal priests, even married men with children, to pursue two sets of vows - marriage and priesthood.
The pope granted the provision at the request of breakaway Episcopalians troubled by a 1976 decision to ordain women.
In the past 27 years, more than 80 Episcopal ministers in the United States have left their church and been ordained Catholic priests.
To any Catholic clergy who might be envious of his permission to be a married priest, Webb says don't be.
"It's a burden to carry around two vocations in life," Webb said.
Even as a married Protestant minister, Webb said one is always robbing time from one vocation for the sake of the other.
The Catholic Church terms celibacy "a gift of an undivided heart."
Yet celibacy was not mandatory for Latin Rite Catholic priests until the 12th century, and it isn't required of Eastern Rite priests if they're married before ordination.
A recent study by Catholic University in Washington estimated that making celibacy optional likely would quad ruple the number of priests.
The church says, however that the Pastoral Provision for Episcopalians is not a move in that direction.
"It is clear in everyone's mind that this is not a proving ground for optional celibacy in the Catholic Church," said the Rev. William Stetson on the Pastoral Provision website.
"In fact, the special challenges of a married clergy ... show the value of the norm of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom in the Western Church," Stetson said.
Webb said he decided to leave the Episcopal Church about three years ago after 16 years as a clergyman primarily because the church was tearing itself apart over changes in doctrine.
Over the past two decades, Webb watched members break away from Episcopal parishes to form new congregations, some becoming missions of conservative Anglican dioceses in Africa, over issues such as the blessing of gay unions and ordination of women and an openly gay bishop.
"It was an ugly fight. Relationships got fractured," Webb said. "I just came to believe that if Christ founded a church, you wouldn't be forced to leave it."
For Protestant churches, the only solution to conflict is to split apart, he says. His years in the Episcopal Church were "rich and good," but he has come to deplore schism.
"The Catholic Church has a clearer understanding of what it means to be one holy and apostolic church," he says.
Webb has done many of the things required by the Catholic Church to pursue ordination - including petitioning the church, obtaining Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput's permission, studying theology for a year and passing written and oral tests.
He has not made a final decision about entering the priesthood.
"I need to be ready spiritually," Webb says. "The care of souls is an intimidating responsibility."
Webb says he knows his wife, Cindy, "thinks it would be kind of weird to be married to a Catholic priest." Still, she makes it clear she supports him. He also thinks 17-year-old son Sterling trusts his judgment.
"When it happens, if it happens, I'll deal with it," Cindy Webb says. "God is always full of surprises. I've been a clergyman's wife in the past. What would it be like in the Catholic Church? I don't know."
She breaks into good-natured laughter. "There aren't a lot of people to ask," she says.
The Pastoral Provision does not give blanket approval to petitioners. A Catholic bishop examines each individual case.
And, these crossover priests, if widowed, may not remarry.
"There's no easy divorce from vows in the Catholic Church, whether you're married or taken a vow of chastity," Phil Webb says.
Although the Pastoral Provision is specific for former Episcopalians, the Catholic Church has permitted ordination of other former Protestant male ministers who are married. Additional seminary studies are required of them.
Beyond the marriage questions, the difference between an Episcopalian priest and a Catholic priest, so the quip goes, is about $20,000 a year.
Catholic diocesan priests generally earn smaller salaries, yet average Catholic parishes often have congregations of 1,000 while the average Episcopal parish is about 200.
Few clerical converts ordained to the Catholic priesthood work as pastors of parishes. Most work in other ministries, such as serving as hospital chaplains. None of it is lucrative work.
"It almost necessitates that you have a wife with a career," Webb says. Cindy Webb is a real estate agent. But he still worries about providing enough for his family.
Webb took a job a year ago in the Archdiocese of Denver's Marriage and Family Life office. He counsels engaged couples.
He says he'd like to keep his current position but recognizes that entering the priesthood would mean additional duties, perhaps even a new post.
Cindy Webb says if Phil chooses the priesthood, "God will work out the details."
She was raised Catholic and converted to the Episcopal Church for Phil after they married.
"I felt our family should all be together in one place," Cindy Webb says. "Phil and I have not been on the same timetable. We've had to kind of wait for each other."
You have to be a pretty tough cookie to be a minister's wife. My grandfather-in-law was a Methodist minister - a good one. He was a "visiting fireman" who specialized in saving churches that were at their last gasp. He would come in, clean up the finances, hold a revival, get a bunch of new members signed up . . . and then the Conference would transfer him again! My grandmother-in-law was a tough old lady -- a bit grim, but who could blame her?
However, the greater problem I see is the "nun shortage." We need more holy women in the church. Whatever the solution will be, the succesfull effort will involve brining both the sexes back into religious life. It will be a massive re-awakening for everyone.
**Cindy Webb says if Phil chooses the priesthood, “God will work out the details.”
She was raised Catholic and converted to the Episcopal Church for Phil after they married.
“I felt our family should all be together in one place,” Cindy Webb says. “Phil and I have not been on the same timetable. We’ve had to kind of wait for each other.”**
God bless this wife and her support of her husband!
So just how many hours a day does a Catholic priest work on average?
Definitely a convert! Just not yet a priest according to the article.
I guess the wife would be a revert, however.
Searching For Authority (A Methodist minister finds himself surprised by Truth!)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part VI: The Biblical Reality (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part V: The Catholics and the Pope(Al Kresta)
The Hail Mary of a Protestant (A true story)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part IV: Crucifix and Altar(Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part III: Tradition and Church (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part II: Doubts (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part I: Darkness(Al Kresta)
Conversion Story - Matt Enloe (former Baptist) [prepare to be amazed!]
THE ORTHODOX REVIVAL IN RUSSIA
Conversion Story - David Finkelstein (former Jew)
Conversion Story - John Weidner (former Evangelical)
12 Reasons I Joined the Catholic Church
Conversion Story - Tom Hunt
The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism: The Converts
John Calvin Made Me Catholic
Journey Home - May 21 - Neil Babcox (former Presbyterian) - A minister encounters Mary
Going Catholic - Six journeys to Rome
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
From Calvinist to Catholic
A Convert's Pilgrimage [Christopher Cuddy]
From Pastor to Parishioner: My Love for Christ Led Me Home (to the Catholic Church) [Drake McCalister]
Lutheran professor of philosophy prepares to enter Catholic Church
Patty Bonds (former Baptist and sister of Dr. James White) to appear on The Journey Home - May 7
Pastor and Flock Become Catholics
Famous Homosexual Italian Author Returned to the Church Before Dying of AIDS
Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns To Full Communion With The Church
Catholic Converts - Stephen K. Ray (former Evangelical)
Catholic Converts - Malcolm Muggeridge
Catholic Converts - Richard John Neuhaus
Catholic Converts - Avery Cardinal Dulles
Catholic Converts - Israel (Eugenio) Zolli - Chief Rabbi of Rome
Catholic Converts - Robert H. Bork , American Jurist (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Converts - Marcus Grodi
Why Converts Choose Catholicism
Journey Home - May 21 - Neil Babcox (former Presbyterian) - A minister encounters Mary
Going Catholic - Six journeys to Rome
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
From Calvinist to Catholic
A Convert's Pilgrimage [Christopher Cuddy]
From Pastor to Parishioner: My Love for Christ Led Me Home (to the Catholic Church) [Drake McCalister]
Lutheran professor of philosophy prepares to enter Catholic Church
Patty Bonds (former Baptist and sister of Dr. James White) to appear on The Journey Home - May 7
Pastor and Flock Become Catholics
The journey back - Dr. Beckwith explains his reasons for returning to the Catholic Church
Famous Homosexual Italian Author Returned to the Church Before Dying of AIDS
Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns To Full Communion With The Church
Catholic Converts - Stephen K. Ray (former Evangelical)
Catholic Converts - Malcolm Muggeridge
Catholic Converts - Richard John Neuhaus
Catholic Converts - Avery Cardinal Dulles
Catholic Converts - Israel (Eugenio) Zolli - Chief Rabbi of Rome
Catholic Converts - Robert H. Bork , American Jurist (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Converts - Marcus Grodi
Why Converts Choose Catholicism
How I led Catholics Out of the Church [Steve Wood]
The Scott Hahn Conversion Story
FORMER PENTECOSTAL RELATES MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
24.
Wow, I thought priest's were human beings that needed sleep, food, recreation and time with family. I wasn't aware they cut all ties with parents and siblings when they became priests. Gee, you learn all kinds of stuff on FR.
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