www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What Eparchies in the United States Ordain Married men?

I believe it traces its root to the middle ages, had something to do with distribution of land or some such. St. Paul encouraged it in one of his epistles, but he never said it should be a requirement. It is well known that many of the apostles, including St. Peter himself, were married.

MDunn,

If you are Latin Catholic you have zero chance of changing sui iuris churches and getting ordained a priest. If you are Greek Catholic you may have a chance if you are willing to drop everything and enroll in Seminary, if not you have zero chance.

Fr. Deacon Lance

And where did you hear that?

Worth asking: How many of "our people" are knocking on the door of the bishops office, with wife in tow, asking about this for themselves?

The question is certainly interesting, but I've no data with which to answer it. So I'll ask a question of my own: does your reference to "our people" mean the Irish?

Fr. Serge

Another question: How often do you hear from the "powers that be" that married Ruthenian Greek Catholic men could be ordained priests and are encouraged to consider it? Deacons? Yes, but priests? Never heard it.

Dear Father Serge, I ask for your blessing,

Could you please tidy up your PM mailbox so I can send you a message?

In Christ:
Converted Viking

Hmmm, the experience for Latins doesn't really happen in Australia. There are 2 married ex-Latins who have been ordained in the Ukrainian Church (I think its 2 at least). I've asked the Melkites about Latins changing rite, marrying in the Melkite Church, and then subsequently being ordained priests and they seem to be fine with it.

I'd have to agree with Collin, although I don't totally disagree with Deacon Lance. I think, perhaps, it might be better said that it is not an easy road and one unlikely to be successfully traversed if the change of Ritual Church is perceived as having been solely or principally motivated by the intent to bypass the Latin celibacy rule.

It seems to me that any married man translating from the Latin Church to an Eastern Church can likely expect that consideration of him as a viable presbyteral candidate would not be favorably considered until he has spent some time in the Eastern Church, subsequent to the time of having made the change. And, by some time, I would ordinarily anticipate a period of a few years.

It would certainly not be something that I'd encourage anyone to list among the reasons for seeking to change canonical enrollment. However, by that, I'm not suggesting that married men considering a change who sincerely believe they are called to the altar should lie by omission in not so stating. Rather, I believe that it may well be premature to commit to that intent until one has experienced the spiritual life of his new Church as a layperson and more fully embraced it than he ordinarily could hope to do while discerning the transfer itself.

Many years,

Neil

As Neil says, the bishops are wary of people changing rites with the sole goal of being ordained a priest in the rite of transfer.

You must really love your new rite. It must be part of your spirituality. The culture of the new Church must become your culture.

They will ordain someone to the priesthood who will be a shepherd to their people within their own Church, not someone who will always long for the Latin rite of their birth and upbringing.

Indeed. So very true. Changing rite simply for the sheer pleasure of running away from your birth rite is not the Christian way. Running away is not the Christian way. You have to be at peace with your birth rite before you choose to transfer rites. Only then will it work out.

What Im getting from all this, aside from Fr. Deacon Lance, is that if I switch rites for anything other then wanting to be an Eastern Catholic, Im in the wrong. I agree with that sentiment whole heartedly

Well, there's nothing wrong for someone from the Latin Rite to desire priesthood in the Eastern Rite. However, a married state or a desire to be a married priest is not a primary motivation to switch to the Eastern Rite. As we are all partakers of the divine nature, the most important thing is to be a part of the community first, and attend Liturgy frequently as possible. Getting involved is a key step.

Well said, Collin!

Many years,

Neil

Dear Viking,

I await your PM!

Fr. Serge