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Former Anglican priest ordained Catholic priest in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS, December 27) --

Archbishop William J. Levada of San Francisco ordained Father James Livingstone, a married former Anglican priest, to the Catholic priesthood Dec. 20. "He is the first such married man to be ordained a priest for the archdiocese," the archbishop said. Father Livingstone was ordained in the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1975, and has served in teaching, prison ministry and parish ministry. He was a pastor of U.S. Episcopal congregations in New Hampshire and South Carolina before he moved to San Mateo, Calif., in 1990. He headed an Episcopal congregation there until he made his profession of faith as a Roman Catholic. "Since 1998, when he first petitioned me to consider him for Catholic ordination, he has been patiently pursuing a review of Catholic theology and practice with private tutors," Archbishop Levada wrote Dec. 5 in a column announcing the ordination in his archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic San Francisco.

More Anglican priests are sure to follow, with the gay bishop ordination this year. The episcopals are sure to begin voting with their feet. Some have already here in our town; editorials in the newspaper prove it.

Many Years to Fr. James. There are more like him lined up.

Father James appears to have been in formation for a while.

The article states that he first petitioned the bishop in 1998, five or more years ago.

I wonder if he had severed his ties to the Episcopalian parish he was serving at that time, or he continued there until recently? I would have assumed that he became a Catholic (and a layperson) in 1998 but now I am not so sure. If he did make the move on or closely after 1998 he would not have been moving by reason of the current gay flap, although I could see that issue as steeling his resolve to go forward.

I wonder what kind of timeline a new convert could reasonably expect to face before being granted faculties to serve as clergy? This is a real concern for those who must find a tangible means of support when giving up their vicarage.

Of course, I am always happy to see new orthodox believing priests ordained for the church. Welcome and congratulations to Father James!

Michael

For the ordination of a married Roman Catholic (meaning a convert clergyman from the Anglicans or the Lutherans) to the priesthood, a separate dispensation in each case must be obtained from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; this is the responsibility of the Bishop-Ordinary who wants the man ordained. There is no such requirement if the candidate is unmarried, which makes one wonder why the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is involved (since one does assume that the requirements of Church doctrine are unaffected by one's marital status). Obtaining this dispensation can well be a time-consuming process. It may vary from diocese to diocese, but at least in some places the clergyman may begin the process of study and so on while continuing to function in the Anglican Church. Incognitus

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

May the day soon come, when it will be ONLY those who feel specifically called by the Lord to consecrated chastity...that will be celibate in both the Eastern Church (in communion with Rome) and the Latin Rite!

In the area where we presently live, there is a shortage of Latin Rite priests by at least 80. In the same diocese there are over 80 married deacons. I think the bishop could solve the 'vocation crises' in this diocese in ONE LITURGY, by simply ordaining all the married deacons...and at the same time he would be able to restore the fine reputation of the Roman priesthood in his diocese (which is going to take GENERATIONS to do otherwise). I suppose that this is not going to happen under the administration of the present Holy Father, saintly though he is, but hopefully under his successor?

In Christ Jesus Our Lord,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory

My experience has been that anyone coming from the Anglican or Lutheran communions do in deed carry much baggage with them. As a former RC I also brought a lot of baggage with me when I moved to the OCA. This is normal. But, eventually, we see the truth of our efforts and become one with our new faith. It took me three years of searching to realize this fact.

JoeS

Dear Archimandrite Gregory,

You said:

"I suppose that this is not going to happen under the administration of the present Holy Father, saintly though he is, but hopefully under his successor?"

I would agree with your statement. From what I have read the vast majority (95%) of the college of Cardinals have been hand picked by the Holy Father. My assumption is that they will be of the same mind in regards to upholding the centuries old RC tradition of celibacy for the priests. Even if they were more 'liberal' on this single issue than the Holy Father (and other Cardinals), they may not want to rock the proverbial boat when it comes to changing the rules. I think that there is little hope for things changing under any of his successors,

unless......

they elect an Eastern rite patriarch as the new head of the Catholic Church. An Eastern rite Catholic pope may be perfectly suited to promote the idea of married clergy within the church without appearing to be disloyal to the teachings of the current Holy Father. What are the chances of this ever happening ?

PS: I did read your post concerning Christmas gifts. I think it was perfect and I hope to be able use it next week (Julian Calendar).

Could an Eastern bishop be elected as pope? The pope is the bishop of Rome and would have to be a Roman Catholic, wouldn't he?

I don't think there are any canons restricting the choice of bishop of Rome to the Latin Rite.

That would have to be an innovation because the Papacy actually precedes the rite. Also supposedly there were at least ten Popes from Byzantium identified as Greek and I read somewhere another seven Syrian Popes (all of whom most likely spoke Greek too).

I cannot verify this information right now but it should be worthwhile for anyone out there industrious enough to do some checking around. The information is definately available and I would be happy to concede to anyone who has better information than I do.

It is a fact that the Emperors of the Roman Empire reigning from Constantinople did name and remove some Popes. That's the kind of information you don't get from CCD class.

So ultimately, if a non-western candidate was ever elected to the chair of Peter, the people of the Latin rite would just have to accept an easterner as their Patriarch.

Michael

There is no doubt that the Catholic Church could elect an Eastern Rite bishop to eventually replace the current Pope of Rome.

There was a good fictional account of this happening in the 1968 movie (originally a book) 'THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN' with Anthony Quinn. The story is roughly based on the life of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic confessor-Patriarch Ioseph (Joseph) Slipij. The story takes place in a highly 'charged' world which is experiencing both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Sino-Russo Conflict of the early 1960's. In the story, the Catholic Church elects a Orthodox Slavic priest as a Cardinal. The Orthodox Slavic priest had just recently been released from a Soviet Siberian hard labour camp where he had spent almost 20 years for professing his religious beliefs (sound familiar ?). He is then just as rapidly promoted to Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (this is where fiction deviates from fact). Clearly, the desperate 'times' of the 1960's required 'non-traditional' leadership for the Catholic Church.

As Archimandrite Gregory stated the 'abuse' crisis within the Church may take GENERATIONS to heal. Some think that the church many have 'lost ground forever'. I think few would dissagree with the fact that the RC Latins are experiencing a serious crisis, or desperate times, within their church. My questions is therefore not can the Catholic Church place an Orthodox or Eastern Rite bishop on the seat of St-Peter (yes they can), but rather:

What are the chances that they would do it if there was a possibility that the new Eastern rite pontiff would rapidly promote celibacy as an option for ALL Catholic priests (ie: both rites) ?

Only someone who is both an 'insider' and 'outsider' could promote such a radical shift in curial policy without seeming to be disloyal to the current pontifl.

Christ is in our midst!

Father, I agree with your statement, but with your permission, may I make one minor distinction? I avoid making recommendations to the Roman Church, hoping that they will one day, stop meddling in the internal and traditional disciplines of the Eastern Churches.

I pray for the full restoration of the discipline of the married clergy. Not only because this is the traditional and therefore right thing to do. I personally believe that when this comes to pass (as it must) there will also be a revival and renewal of the monastic life. Then celibacy, and the monastic vocation, will regain its place in the Church as a great gift and charism, and celibacy will no longer be spoken of as a burden or sacrifice undertaken by those with a priestly vocation. It will be accepted and valued for what it is.

Elias

Dear Friends:

Based on the current "demographics" of the Sacred College of Cardinals, can an Eastern Cardinal be elected as Pope?

The answer is, arguably, NO! Of the 5 Eastern Cardinals in the Sacred College, only 3 are "electable:" UGCC's Cardinal Husar (70), the Syro-Malabar's Cardinal Vithayathil (76), and the retired Patriarch of the Syrians Cardinal Daoud (73), Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronites, and Cardinal Gattas, Patriarch of the Copts, are both over 80.

As of 12/31/2003, there are 193 Cardinals, of which 131 are eligible electors, i.e., under 80. The electors come from 56 countries.

The respective Patriarchs of the Armenians, the Chaldeans, and the Melkites have not been (or refused to be) created Cardinals.

However, may the College, in conclave, elect an Eastern Cardinal as the next Pope? Yes, not because the Latin Church is "desperate" or "in crisis," but because the existing "law" allows it (or does not prohibit it) and, more importantly, because the Holy Spirit wills it.

A Pope from the East has historical precedence and I believe he does not have to "convert" as a Latin-rite Catholic.

The Pope, as the Supreme Pastor of the universal Church, can be bi-ritual, bi-ecclessial, multi-ritual, multi-ecclesial, and what have you! After all, he IS the Supreme Authority of the Church here on earth.

The Pope, in the exercise of his Petrine Ministry, is more than a Patriarch!

AmdG

Dear Amando,

Thank you for this post, which presents an interesting discussion on papal elections. On this point, any many (not impeded by impediment) can be elected Bishop of Rome. Laymen, deacons, priests, have been elected. (Candidates in the past, have not been members of the conclave.)

However, may I make a suggestion? This thread has as its subject the question of the ordination of married men. Daniel N. asked a good question, which really should have begun a new thread.

May I suggest that Daniel, or you, open a discussion on papacy, or on the question of electors, with an appropriate title?

Daniel,

The short answer to the first question is "yes" and to the second, "yes, which he would immediately become".

Ah, I started this reply 2 hrs ago, but was interrupted by little people; now, after posting, I read my brother Amado's post (and Father Elias' very logical request that we take the topic to a new thread). Sorry.

I agree with Amado (as I almost always do - it's because of those Jesuit-inserted implants we share - coming to an X-Files episode soon, watch your TV Guide for date and time) as far as the arguable likelihood of election. But, I disagree with him (does one of us need new batteries?) insofar as a change of Church [i]sui iuris happening as a consequence of election.[/i]

Those here who are old, like me, (and my brother Amado ) may remember His Beatitude Krikor Bedros (Anglicized as Gregory Peter) XV Aghajanian, Catholicos & Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenias for All the Catholic Armenians, of thrice-blessed memory, who was considered a serious contender to succeed HH Pius XII in the Seat of Peter. Anecdotally, Pope John XXIII, of blessed memory, reportedly was chosen by a slim margin over His Beatitude.

At the time, I remember Latin Catholics being quite in awe at a full-color photo of His Beatitude, a handsome man, resplendent in his robes, that accompanied an article about papabilii (?sp) in, I think, Time magazine.

An Eastern Catholic who is elected and accepts his election as Pope automatically is transferred to the Latin Church sui iuris (doesn't even have to submit a request for "Change of Canonical Enrollment" :p ). As Bishop of Rome (by virtue of which he is Pope - or is it the other way around - the chicken and egg crisis) and as Patriarch of the West, an incidental consequence of becoming Pope, he is of the Latin Church sui iuris

As Michael said, there have been several Popes who were Easterners.

Many years,

Neil