www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Ordination of Married Men to the Priesthood

I was just wondering, how easy is it for a married man to get a dispensation in the United States to be ordained a priest in a Eastern Catholic Church?

Why would he even need a dispensation in the first place. Look at the ECCL.
Stepahnos I

So far as I am aware no formal "dispensation" for the ordination of a married deacon to the priesthood in the USA has been given in favour of any of the Eastern Catholic Churches since the later nineteen-twenties. The present situation is that some Eastern Catholic jurisdictions in the USA ordain married priests and others do not. In practice it depends upon the diocesan Bishop.

Incognitus

In Australia while 36 out of 38 bishops have declared no objection to the Ordination of Married man to the priesthood the Apostolic Nuncio is not in favour and makes it known. Result is that the Bishops simply ordains and inform him after the ordination. Saves hassel and everybody is happy.
Well, everybody......

As far as I am aware we got 5 married ordinations so far

Wilhelm

No "dispensation" is required as no law (in the CCEO) prohibits such ordinations. What IS required, and which, happily, one is starting to see, is a bit of episcopal backbone to carry on with our authentic traditions. If some Curial time-serving, kingdom-building careerist with a narrow view of priesthood and a Manichean view of sexuality wants to scream and try to bring down the power of the so-called Apostolic See on any bishop or priest thus ordained, let him do so: he only makes himself look like one of those clowns play-acting in the Campo del Fiori.
Rome should always and everywhere be ignored when it tries these sorts of idiotic antics. As every Thomist will tell you, bad law deserves to be ignored and countermanded. Eastern Catholics should act like autonomous Churches enjoying the relationship of sister Churches in a plenitude of communion with Rome, not as meekly obedient daughters. If functionaries in Rome scream about it, tough: what are they going to do--excommunicate us? We have nothing to fear.

Hello Adam! Peace and Blessings!
(Was great to see that in Sub Deacon Adams Church there was a young married priest.)
I aggree who heartedly. An Eparch with backbone.
And a question for Wilhelm.
And what does the Papal Nuncio have to do with the question in the first place. (Respectfuly put him in his place and that is as a representative for the Holy See for the LATIN Church.)
Stephanos I

as a Russian Catholic who went to an Independent Baptist seminary, let me say a hearty fundamental Baptist AAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEENNNNNN!
I'm a crusty bachelor, but I have no problems with a man who wants to get married (what ever floats his boat, I suppose), and get ordained to the Priesthood. Hello? does anyone remember Johnstown? we typical Americans have little historical sense and continuity, and we conveniently forget anything that happened before breakfast this morning. don't anyone DARE ask me what is Johnstown about, I would be a bit put out if a Ruthenian asked that question. LET THE PRIESTS MARRY, not only our Eastern Catholics, but the Latins as well. yes, we are Catholic, (I was born a Catholic, and hopefully will die one as well.) BUT we have our own liturgies, distinctive theologies, and Canon Law, we are sister churches of the Latins, but by no means are our various churches Cinderellas, redheaded freckled face stepsisters, or anything else like that. I say the Latins who have a problem with us need to get over it, and get a life.how's that for a taste of Irish-German-Native American-Dutch-Spanish-French temper, all in good spirits and humor, but at the same time, I, as others, need to tell a few folks who don't seem to be sensitive to our traditions where it's at.
Much Love,
Jonn
:p

Doesn't it seem strangely funny that not a few popes, an ecumenical council, and various offices of the church have over the last 100 years or so been telling the Eastern Churches to grow and mature so that the entire Church benefits in her mission to the world, and at the the same time expect to be asked for permission for every step of growth?

Regarding married men being ordained to the priesthood, we must remember that it is a discipline - a discipline - and disciplines are particular to particular churches.

I do not see a need for a dispensation for a married man to be ordained in the Eastern Churches in the USA or Canada or Australia... A dispensation means allowing something that is not normal. Married priesthood is normal is the Eastern Churches. The fact that is was removed from the lived experience of the ECs for a while is only because it was imposed by the Latin Church.

We, ECs, Latins, and the whole universal Church in the world, have a lot of growing up to do still.

Adam, well said. It is good to see someone else deliver that sort of retort once in a while.

It's in the law (CCEO), the Holy Father has written repeatedly about reclaiming our traditional practices and disciplines, it happens all of the time outside of North America, and, THERE ARE MARRIED ROMAN PRIESTS in North America.

The "prohibition" was a temporary deviation and perversion of received tradition. It divided families, split parishes, and created deep wounds within the Greek Catholic communities.

As such, there exists absolutely no inhibiting reasons to either continue the deviation or invent pseudo-theology and contrived reasons to continue. Rather, the need to heal these defects in our received tradition is more than apparent. VII, Orientale Lumen, the CCEO, etc. all make very clear the need for Eastern Catholics to be faithful to our patrimony. When a car has a flat tire, we don't try to justify why we should drive on three tires.

The official informational document for the Eastern Catholics in the USA (by the same title) from the U.S. Catholic Bishop's Conference also specifically mentions that ordination of married clergy is common in Eastern Catholic churches.

I agree with Fr. Michael. There is still a great deal of maturing ongoing with the Greek Catholic hierarchy on this continent.

The Eastern Churches MUST assert themselves on this issue.

Allowing married men willing to answer the call to priesthood is something that must be addressed in the Roman Church also. I understand the arguments for celibacy, but at a time when vocations are lacking or being ignored, allowing married priests can only strengthen and build the Church, and I am far from being a "liberal" Latin.

I won't hold my breath for married priests in the Latin Church, but if Rome sees and realizes it works in the Eastern Churches, this may someday help bring it about.

Bill

Bill, you won't have to hold your breath. There are already several dozen former Episcopalian and Lutherans who are RC priests serving Latin dioceses.

Speaking of Johnstown, when I left the RC seminary, an ACROD priest friend of mine suggested I join them. I declined. His son was also just ordained (and is married, of course).

It saddens me that it's ok to get married, become a protestant minister (or sometimes an orthodox priest), then convert to catholicism, and you can remain married, yet, it seems to be very difficult to BE a catholic, get married, then get ordained (impossible in the Latin Church).

What should men who want to get married and want to explore a vocation to the priesthood do? Should they be discouraged or should they go for it?

oy vey, was a mishmosh, nein a tsimmes und a schande godalah .In Yiddish, a shameful mess.
you're right, and if I may presume, noeither of us know why these things should have to be.
Blesses Mary Theotokos, pray for us.
Much Love,
Jonn

Maybe I missed something? I'm sure I've missed something - so excuse me if I have.

'cause there ARE married priests in Eastern Catholic Churches. Bishops routinely ordained married men to the priesthood in Canada and the US, in e.g. the Ukrainian Eparchies and I believe in the Melkite Eparchy.

It's no big deal. No dispensations are required. They just do it, like they do for an unmarried candidate.

Wasn't a married man ordained in the Ukrainian Eparchy of Detroit a couple of months ago?

Not an issue, as far as I can see.

Herb

That was the Eparchy of Chicago, and it was the first priestly ordination of the new bishop.

The Romanians have also ordained married men in the last few years. It's no big deal anymore.