Comments on: Florida priest shouldn’t have to pick woman or priesthood http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/2009/05/11/749/749/ Spiritual Life reflects former Tribune Spiritual Life editor Lawn Griffiths' commentaries and insights into spiritual and religious issues and events, as well the inspiring, offbeat and unorthodox things he comes across covering the landscape of faith and belief. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:13:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Joe http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/2009/05/11/749/749/#comment-1347 Joe Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:38:49 +0000 http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/?p=749#comment-1347 Sara, he isn't saying that. If a man is already married as a protestant minister, and then decides to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, we will sometimes accept his request to continue his ministry in our Church as a Catholic priest after his ordination. But there is the understanding that if his wife were to die before him, he would not remarry. As a protestant, he was not bound by the celibacy law. After being moved by the Spirit to enter our Church, we would not want the fact that he is married to prevent his becoming a priest, if he and the Church discerned he had a vocation to the priesthood. Although this approach is part of a broader biblical ascetic practice, you are right that it isn't on the order of dogma and therefore could be changed. But there is nothing inconsistent in this practice. Hope that helps, Joe Sara, he isn’t saying that. If a man is already married as a protestant minister, and then decides to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, we will sometimes accept his request to continue his ministry in our Church as a Catholic priest after his ordination. But there is the understanding that if his wife were to die before him, he would not remarry.

As a protestant, he was not bound by the celibacy law. After being moved by the Spirit to enter our Church, we would not want the fact that he is married to prevent his becoming a priest, if he and the Church discerned he had a vocation to the priesthood.

Although this approach is part of a broader biblical ascetic practice, you are right that it isn’t on the order of dogma and therefore could be changed. But there is nothing inconsistent in this practice.

Hope that helps,
Joe

]]> By: sara abram http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/2009/05/11/749/749/#comment-1303 sara abram Thu, 21 May 2009 16:29:48 +0000 http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/?p=749#comment-1303 So Timothy are you basically saying that what the Catholic church is doing is unbiblical by allowing former Angelican priests to become married Catholic priests , since 1980 and until today? You say it is unbiblical. Does unbiblical in any way mean that it is a core forbidden act stipulated by Jesus or the bible so that the Church makes celibacy a dogma for all ordained priests and to otherwise remove any priest who chooses marriage? So Timothy are you basically saying that what the Catholic church is doing is unbiblical by allowing former Angelican priests to become married Catholic priests , since 1980 and until today?

You say it is unbiblical. Does unbiblical in any way mean that it is a core forbidden act stipulated by Jesus or the bible so that the Church makes celibacy a dogma for all ordained priests and to otherwise remove any priest who chooses marriage?

]]> By: Timothy http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/2009/05/11/749/749/#comment-1301 Timothy Thu, 14 May 2009 00:31:41 +0000 http://spirituallife.freedomblogging.com/?p=749#comment-1301 >"Florida priest shouldn’t have to pick woman or priesthood" You are correct that the Florida priest shouldn’t have to pick woman or priesthood. He should know that he is a priest and that there is no choice. As for priests marrying, that is unbiblical. There is no instance of any apostle or later disciple marrying after ordination to the ministry. Married men may be ordained (e.g. Peter), but ordained men may not marry. On this, all 23 Catholic Churches are in agreement with the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches. God bless... +Timothy >”Florida priest shouldn’t have to pick woman or priesthood”

You are correct that the Florida priest shouldn’t have to pick woman or priesthood. He should know that he is a priest and that there is no choice.

As for priests marrying, that is unbiblical. There is no instance of any apostle or later disciple marrying after ordination to the ministry. Married men may be ordained (e.g. Peter), but ordained men may not marry. On this, all 23 Catholic Churches are in agreement with the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

God bless… +Timothy

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