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I am a member of the Latin Rite. I am curious at how having a married priest or being a married priest works with the apostolate of being a priest. Here, it seems that priests are always busy and a former Episcopalian minister turned Catholic priest says that his family makes many sacrifices for him to perform his parish duties. I know that everyone makes sacrifices, but I am curious as to what your perceptions of a married clergy are. Has celibacy ever been a universal discipline in the Eastern Church? What do you think?
I could go either way; I understand the meaning of the sacrifice and also the practicality of it, but it would also be nice to be able to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony and to have a family (I am a seminarian currently). I am just curious as to what your thoughts are.
God bless,
Michael

Celibacy has NEVER been an universal discipline for any of the Eastern Churches. Only bishops and monks are celibate.

As far as the priest's family's sacrifices, I'm sure there are sacrifices. But the celibate priests also make sacrifices, but other kinds or other ways. So, either way, priests make sacrifices. That's the whole point of being a priest...to share the same priesthood of Jesus Christ...which includes acts of sacrifices.

spdundas

Dear Brother Michael,

Christ is in our Midst!

As an Eastern Orthodox Subdeacon, I can answer your question somewhat from the side of the married clergy. In their service to the church, the married clergy also have additional support with their family that a celibate priest does not have.

Many are the days that I have seen my orthodox priest visit the home of the dying or very ill with his lovely presbyterva (priest's wife). While father was busy performing the sacraments, the presbytera was busy arranging for child care, meals to be cooked, comforting the spouse, children or other relatives. When Father came home she cushioned him from the demands of those around him, fed him, comforted him.

It is written that the Matushka (Russian for priest's wife) of St John of Kronstadt acted as his unpaid secretary and receptionist. When parishioners and others made calls to their home, she assured that they were made welcome and comfortable--- providing tea and cakes as well as a sympathetic ear while they awaited for Father John to return from his rounds. She was the daughter of an Archpriest herself and entered into her marriage knowing the demands of the wife of a priest.

Today, the Presbyterva or Matushka may be found leading the choirs of the church, organizing the catechism classes, or busy assuring that every newcommer at the mission or parish is recognized and made welcome. This on top of caring for her man, the Priest, and their frequently large family.

Every woman who becomes the wife of a priest/deacon/subdeacon is interviewed by the ordinand bishop to determine if SHE is willing to make the great sacrifices that will be required of her by having a husband who is a member of the clergy---if her answer is No, the ordination does not occur.

A recent development in some dioceses and seminaries is the beginning of the Presbyterva Workshops to help them to learn how to be a help-meet to their husband after ordination. Some of the these wives, continued their education in the very seminaries their husbands are studying for the priesthood in. They are graduating with Master degrees in Theology, Church Music, and Christian Education/Catechises to further be of assistance to their spouse in his calling.

To the Eastern Orthodox and the Byzantine Catholics (not in the US) this is the norm, a married priest who comes to the parish with the additional (unpaid) support of his wife and family. To the Orthodox, the question often is how can a parish priest in the Roman Catholic Church do all he must do without the support of a good presbyterva. To us it would seem that the priest might even be handicapped, isolated as he is from the intimate and loving support of a family.

Your brother in Christ,
Sub-Deacon Thomas

Same article as above.

[This message has been edited by Thomas (edited 04-02-2001).]

Dear Thomas,
Glory to Jesus Christ, and welcome to the forum!

I was interested to hear of presbytera workshops. What a wonderful idea! Is this happening in dioceses in the US or Canada at all, or back in Europe and the Middle East?

I'd love to hear more about these programs.

God bless,
Mike (poor sinner)

Sub-Deacon Thomas,
Thank you for your reply. That's interesting how in the West, the idea of married clergy is so unheard of and unfortuately in some cases, even sinful in the eyes of the less informed. Whereas, in the East, celibacy is for the lower clergy is quite unique.
God bless,
Michael

I don't believe that is quite correct. The East allow married priests. Monks and Bishops, however, must be celibate. Celibacy is not a lower order.

The point of Eastern Catholics is that we must again allow married priests and actually have some in the near future to fulfill two obligations. First, we must do so in order to be obedient to the Holy Father. Second, we must do so in order to be true to our patrimony.

When some of the Orthodox look at our sad history of not allowing married priests in America they say "See what you 'uniates' have experienced at the hands of the Romans. They will never do that to us." As long as we are afraid to have married priests the Orthodox have a point.

Dan L

Dear Dan,
You have the right to ordain married men in the Eastern Code of Canon Law.
My question is why do your Bishops not have the courage to do so?
As the addage goes "Just Do It!"

There is absolutely no reason for the Eastern Churches to not to ordain married men.

Stephanos
Unworthy Monk and Arch sinner

Stephanos,

I agree. If I were a bishop I would do so. The claim is that they want to make sure that there are parishes that can afford to support married clergy. Perhaps that is the only reason. We shall see.

Dan L

Theologically, no: there is no reason why a Byzantine Catholic priest cannot be married.

Practically, I think the bishops are concerned that a presbyteral family should be supported with not just a 'living wage', but a decent wage. Many of our parishes are quite small. If there are 25 families, and each gives $25 a week (and extra on holydays) for an annual total of ~$1,500. The total parish income would be $37,500 per year. Not really very much to pay for heat, light and church upkeep, and pay for the priest's residence and other incidentals like food, clothing, telephone, automobile expenses, etc. Parish festivals help, as does the ever-venerable bingo, but this would also require a substantial number of volunteers on a regular basis to raise the funds needed.

Thus, the priest and/or his wife would need to work outside the home to supplement the income provided by the parish. Many Orthodox priests face this dilemma: daddy has a second job in the local school system (if he has the credentials) and mommy either works IN the home with the little one(s) or has an outside job too. I think that the Byzantine bishops would like to figure out a way of avoiding this situation. Of course, they could go about placing married priests in the larger parishes that could support the married clergy, but that would tie the bishops' hands in being able to assign clergy where they could do the most good.

So, apart from trying to disabuse folks of the notion that throwing a fiver in the collection is "about what's right", we'll just have to pray for more resources.

Blessings!

(Let's not forget to offer a special prayer during Great and Holy Week for the clergy; that God will grant them great graces for their work and for strength to endure the hard times.)

Dear John,
Again the answer is quite simple!
Double or why not tripple the giving.
That should settle the question.
Whether a cleric is single or married, a parish should give them a decent living wage, instead of leaving many of us in destitution. I was $40,000 dollars in debt to care for my own mother. What about the matter of Justice.

Stephanos
Unworthy Monk and Arch sinner.

I don't know what jurisdiction you come from (you've never told) but I am sure that the financial aspects are critically important for clergy of whatever community.

You are correct, in my opinion, that our priests need to be paid a decent wage for their service to us. Unfortunately, this attitude isn't universal. And many folks think a fiver is a good enough 'donation' to the parish.

Blessings!

I'm a part time college instructor. My wife is a career woman in social service. We aren't wealthy but we could make it even in a small parish. We are also empty nesters. Perhaps a few priests in situation similar to ours would establish a precedent.

One other matter, reversing this situation is not simply a matter of each person giving more. It is also a matter of self perception. If we see ourselves as only an extension of the old country and not as a vital growing Church in America we will always suffer for funds.

Anthony Dragani and a few others are right. We have a message that God wants us to share even with people like myself whose last name does not originate in Eastern Europe.

Dan Lauffer

I think Dan is at the same place where our bishops are heading, at least on an interium basis -- young men interested in teh priesthood guided into celibate life with their numbers supplimented by
second-career or early retiree married men, partiuclarly those who have finished with their child rearing duties.

K.

Yes, Kurt, but where does that leave those who feel called to priesthood, but are married young men? I know we had the discussion about the difference in East/West views about vocations, but if someone is young AND feels called to be a priest and wants to serve God in this capacity, and the parish needs him, then we shouldn't say "wait 30 years." I think we would establish a dangerous precident if the only married priests were in their 40's or 50's.

anastasios

Now having married priests who have a "regular job" supplement the duties of the pastor of a church FOR FREE would be a worthy interim solution in my mind. The Melkites tend to do this. That way, also, we could tell who was serious about SERVING the church!