www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Ordinations?

I know St. Vladimir's has apartments for single and married. Now I understand the Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in DC does, too, but that the married section is currently unoccupied.

What do our married seminarians do in Pgh? Do they live at the seminary or with their family?

Another question, if the Byzantine Catholic Archbishop won't ordain a married man, how ethical is it to ask another eparchy (this has been done); another Catholic Church (Ukrainian or Melkite, for example -- again, this has been done); or to convert to Orthodoxy (this has been done, too)?

It's possible, as we've seen, that God calls a man to Holy Orders, but not necessarily where he thinks he's being called. I guess I'm trying to cope with an idea of treason if I, for example, were to be rejected (if I ever applied) and then tried a different juridiction; or even Orthodoxy.

St. Josaphat's in DC (Ukrainian) has a section now for married priests? Hmmmm...I applied last year, but was rejected due to being told that my family could not be supported. Interesting.

How would one go about supporting your family without going into debt? I have a novel idea that I'd like to give Archbishop Stefan for married priestly formation that I'm sure would work, but after the rejection, I'm a little hesitant.

Offer your suggestion to Metropolitan Stefan - he will listen.

Dear Marc,
You ask "if the Byzantine Catholic Archbishop won't ordain a married man, how ethical is it to ask another eparchy (this has been done); another Catholic Church (Ukrainian or Melkite, for example -- again, this has been done); or to convert to Orthodoxy (this has been done, too)?"

For a layman to go from one Catholic diocese to another is no ethical problem at all, any more than moving from one state to another is any sort of legal problem - somebody who lives in Florida and chooses to go and live in Alaska is at perfect liberty to move to Alaska. Or vice versa.

By the same token, there is no ethical question involved in moving house from one country to another - although there may be a legal problem depending on the two countries in question.

To convert to Orthodoxy raises a double question of ethics: the question of what, precisely, the convert believes on the fundamental matters which divide the Church, and the question of whether the convert genuinely wants to adhere to the Orthodox Church or is simply looking for ordination under what he anticipates will be favourable conditions.

Leaving an eparchy of the Pittsburgh Metropolia and simultaneously joining another Greek-Catholic eparchy in the USA will no doubt involve some culture shock. For openers, many Greek-Catholics in the USA are annoyed that the Pittsburgh Metropolia somehow believes itself to be the one and only "Byzantine Catholic" Church in America - so you would face a shift in vocabulary!

I don't know Metropolitan Stefan of Philadelphia personally, but I rather suspect that he is open to discussing various matters and is unlikely to slam the door in anyone's face. He's well thought of.

Incognitus

What about a Latin?

My advice to a Latin would be that, first of all, a desire to be a married priest is NOT a sufficient reason by itself to join one of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

If that doesn't put him off, the next move is to urge him to find an Eastern Catholic Church that seems to speak to him, join it with his family for a period of several years. That should provide some time for discernment.

On the other hand, Rome is capable of some amazing volte-faces. When Czechoslovakia, as it was then, went through the Velvet Revolution it turned out that a number of underground Latin priests were married. Instead of doing the sensible thing (thanking these priests for serving during such a terrible time, and recognizing them with an extraordinary permission to continue), Rome pressured the Greek-Catholic eparchy to "incardinate" these priests, and then promptly gave them bi-ritual faculties so that they could in fact continue to function as Latin clergy without being "de iure" Latin clergy. And no, I am not making this up.

Incognitus

I agree that joining one of the Eastern Catholic Churches just because one wants to be a married priest is NOT a good idea. Eventually, if a Latin Catholic tries that he's going to do the same thing Tridentine Catholics have done in Eastern Catholic Churches before. He will try to Latinize the parish if he only joins to be a married priest. That just won't work. A person should join a Church because he agrees with the doctrine and the praxis of the Church.

Dr. Eric, I agree with you fully.

Incognitus, thanks for information. I thought as much, but I wonder what others think.

Well Incognitus it worked!
Stephanos I

I HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY ONE IN AUTHORITY. MY EPARCHY HAS TWO SEMINARIANS IN PITTSBURGH. THAT'S 100% BETTER THAN I THOUGHT!

Dear Stephanos,
In our time of planned obsolescence - when efficiency seems to mean that the repairman arrives before the building is completed - it is consoling to know that something worked. But I wouldn't mind knowing what you are referring to!

Incognitus

Fr. I,

It was far worse than that. The Czech priests were given an ultimatum, remain Latin and only be allowed to function as deacons or become Byzantine priests and cease to function in the Latin Church altogether. Quite a disrespectful move to both the priests and the Byzantine Church.

Fr. Deacon Lance