www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Restoration of the Married Priesthood

This thread is meant to continue where "Married Clergy as a Menace" left off. Since the previous thread got terribly off topic, this thread is meant to get the issue back into focus.

Here are some important questions:

What are the main obstacles that we must overcome in order to fully restore the married priesthood among Eastern Catholics in North America?

More importantly, what practical steps can we take to help restore this tradition?

Is there anything that the laity can do to support our bishops in taking the initiative?

Obviously this is an important topic, and most of us have strong feelings about it. Many of us feel powerfless to restore this tradition, but are we really as powerless as we think? Perhaps the ball is in our court, and we just need to approach our bishops to voice our support for restoring this tradition?

Anthony

I don't think it ever hurts to write the hiearchs in question and tell them your thoughts on the issue. It probably also wouldn't hurt to commend Kyr Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford for his ordination of two married men this past summer.

Metropolitan Stephan Soroka is on record as stating he will ordain any worthy candidates, married or celibate, in the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. The bottom line is worthy candidates - we need well formed priests, married or celibate.

I think it is a matter of just doing it for our hierarchs, as at this point Rome won't or can't interfere, especially considering the immense brush fire control that will be necessary for the current scandals in the Latin hierarchy.
Subdeacon Randolph, a sinner

I'm an outsider to this dicussion, so feel free to tell me to shut up, but....

I get the impression sometimes that some Catholics think married priests is the essense, fullness and everything of the Byzantine tradition. From the standpoint of us Orthodox, its really not.

I think your bishops might be getting all un-nerved by the excessive emphasis on married priests.

Just a thought.

Axios

There are no obstacles to restoring the tradition. The only hurdles yet to be addressed are worthy candidates, who are well formed and well educated. Formation is no small hurdle, and this must be addressed. It is however more "task" than "obstacle".

Elias

Anthony,
I think one positive step that all of you as members of the Byzantine Church could do, is to make you thoughts known to the Bishops.
And may you have success.
Stephanos I

There is only one thing needed to reinstate this sacred tradition of our church . . .

A bishop to lay his hands on a worthy married man and ordain him.

Honestly, what is Rome going to do about it?

Really, what is Rome going to do about it?

Are they going to excommunicate us?

Are they going to send in Polish nobles to burn our Churches?

And as far as the MONEY issue that Monica raised on the last forum. If the Roman bishops are concerned about the costs of supporting priests with wives and families, they should do a comparitive analysis of this cost with cost of the 1 billion dollar lawsuit sttlements and the sellling of property to pay for the current clergy sex abuse scandal. . . .

ALity

Rome has given us the go ahead. Bishop Basil was with our Church Saturday and I spoke to our vocations director, Father Hrubiak. Father's words were encouraging but again he counselled patience.

I feel much sorrow for the men who have been turned aside just from our congregation because of their orthodoxy and others who have been turned down simply because they were married.

Dan Lauffer

Dear Dan,

Do you mean to say that these men from your parish were turned down because they were not homosexual? Are you under the impression (whether rightly or wrongly) that only homosexual men are considered to not be a "flight risk" from the seminary because of their non-interest in possibly getting married? Isn't the gift of celibacy something that is hopefully visited by the Holy Spirit upon men of whatever orientation (or affliction, if you wish)? If not, why this urgency to turn our seminary into a place where only married heterosexual men (who are by default "orthodox") are welcome? (It sounds like that's what you expect it to be.)

To be honest, I've not run into too many ordained graduates of our seminary who are not "orthodox" in their theological orientation. It's hard to believe that this is a reason to reject someone from a seminary that has mostly graduated and promoted to ordination precisely that kind of person.

I've been to in a lot more Byzantine Catholic churches than you have, and have heard many many more Byzantine Catholic homilies than you have, and even though I've seen some weird liturgies, I don't think I've ever heard dissent or heresy being taught or promoted from the pulpit. Not once.

We've got room in D.C. and Ottawa, and there's a good chance that if you're married and a good candidate, you'll be ordained as a married priest in the future in the UGCC considering the actions in Stamford last August and the statements of our Metropolitan, who came from Canada where married men have been ordained in the past. Difficult situation with the Ruthenians, only 4 left in the seminary in Pittsburgh and not real good outlook for restoration of married priests anytime soon.
It never hurts to let the hierarchy know what's on your mind through correspondence.

Dan,

Did you hear that "Rome has given us the go ahead" from the vocations director? Did you have an opportunity to ask (soon to be Metropolitan) Basil about this issue? This is encouraging news. Perhaps this issue is on the agenda for our new bishops?

Anthony

Dear Diak,

I am delighted that the UGCC has moved ahead, and is leading the way for the Byzantine Churches in America. However, our Church needs these good candidates, and I hope these men will be able to offer themselves in the (Ruthenian) Byzantine Catholic Church. For us to lose them would be a great disappointment to many of us.

Elias

Father, bless!

Point well taken, Father Elias - I was just trying to get a rise out of you Pittsburgh guys. I hope and pray the situation gets resolved through some proactive measures by your hierarchy.

Perhaps at some point we should revisit the possibility of combining resources for seminary formation for the Ukrainian and Ruthenian hierarchies- it seems like some duplication of effort and inefficiencies may be present in the current system.

It seems like one faculty could be assembled to handle the four or so in Pittsburgh plus the 15-20 at St. Josaphat's in D.C. with a net savings to both hierarchies in the long run, unless Pittsburgh is anticipating a flood of vocations to fill its seminary in the next few years. But alas, the current provincialism will likely prevail. It seems like basic exegesis, liturgical theology, ecclesiology, homiletics, etc. would be common to everyone and each group could sub-specialize in their own music, typikon, etc. pertinent to either Ukrainian or Ruthenian usage. Maybe I'm just dreaming with practicality.

Hello, All!

I stopped by the Ukrainian National Shrine, and St. Josaphat's while on vacation in DC. I will be returning there in a day or two. Does any one know who I might talk to at St. Josaphat's? I did a "drive-by", as it was too late to stop in (it was around 7:00 PM).

Thanks!

Rich

Here's another thought from my feeble brain, which I think is related to the topic...

Do you think the heirachy would let a married man be chaplain in the military? I think that would be a very cool calling, and you would get to minister to many different and various people, around the world! And money, benefits, and retirement wouldn't be a problem either. Hmmmmmmmm......

Is there an Eastern Catholic Military Ordinate for USA? Or would they follow under the Archdiocese of the Military Ordinate for the USA (which I believe is Latin)? OR would they just fall under their original Eparch/Archeparch? Any one know the answers to these mysterious questions?

Tune in, same Bat-time! Same Bat-Channel!

OK, It's late, and I'm getting goofy (late night at work, but almost done there. No more late nights! Woo hoo!)

Thanks, all!

Peace,

Rich

I think it would be a mistake to talk of the married priesthood if we believe that the priest is all that matters. The Presvytera is the other half of the dyad, and there must be ongoing recognition of her dignity as well. (This may require some attitude adjustment in some quarters.)

Just a thought..


Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com