Married priests . . .

ziapueblo · #1 Dec 10, '08, 12:34 pm

It is my understanding that in the Eastern Tradition a man, if already married, may be ordained a priest. Is this correct? If so, is this a practice of all the Eastern Catholic Churches or just a few? If a list could be provided that would be very helpful. Also, correct me if I am wrong, a married priest cannot rise to the position of bishop? Thanks for your time guys and gals.

God bless,
ZP

Harpazo · #2 Dec 10, '08, 1:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziapueblo

It is my understanding that in the Eastern Tradition a man, if already married, may be ordained a priest. Is this correct? If so, is this a practice of all the Eastern Catholic Churches or just a few? If a list could be provided that would be very helpful. Also, correct me if I am wrong, a married priest cannot rise to the position of bishop? Thanks for your time guys and gals.

God bless,
ZP

Hello ZP,

This is the authentic Eastern Tradition, but has been suppressed by Rome in America at least. In countries of the particular Church's origin, they are allowed to marry. I think the Ukrainians are allowed to ordain married men, as are the Ruthenians. I can't recall for sure. It's somewhat of a sticky issue because Rome has called for Eastern Catholics to return to their ancient and venerable traditions before they were latinized, yet they are barred from doing so on certain ones. The married presbyterate is one of them.

You are correct, a married man may not be enthroned as a Bishop. The Orthodox still ordain married men to all orders up to and including the Priesthood as they have throughout the ages.

Hope this helps.

Alloho minokhoun,
Andrew

ziapueblo · #3 Dec 10, '08, 1:49 pm

Thanks, that helps a lot.

bpbasilphx · #4 Dec 10, '08, 2:29 pm

The Pastor of the local Melkite Church is married, and everyone is quite happy with it.

There is another priest attached who is a widower, but was ordained while his wife was still alive.

Deacon Ed · #5 Dec 10, '08, 2:43 pm

The prohibition against ordaining married men for the United States (and Canada) is no longer in force. However, there is still some confusion about whether or not an Eastern bishop must ask Rome for permission before ordaining a married man. Bishop JOHN of the Melkites has ordained married men in the United States without such permission and Rome has not said he was wrong to do so.

Many of the married priests in the United States were ordained in the "old country" and then came to the United States to serve.

Bp. Basil speaks of Fr. Peter -- a good and holy priest who served for many years as a married deacon before being ordained to the priesthood.

Deacon Ed

Harpazo · #6 Dec 10, '08, 4:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon Ed

The prohibition against ordaining married men for the United States (and Canada) is no longer in force. However, there is still some confusion about whether or not an Eastern bishop must ask Rome for permission before ordaining a married man. Bishop JOHN of the Melkites has ordained married men in the United States without such permission and Rome has not said he was wrong to do so.

Many of the married priests in the United States were ordained in the "old country" and then came to the United States to serve.

Bp. Basil speaks of Fr. Peter -- a good and holy priest who served for many years as a married deacon before being ordained to the priesthood.

Deacon Ed

Shlomo,

When was this ban lifted? I have a Melkite friend here at Ave Maria University whose father is a priest, but Rome prohibited from getting ordained in the US. He had to go to Israel and was ordained in Haifa. This was three or four years ago.

Alloho minokhoun,
Andrew

Deacon Ed · #7 Dec 11, '08, 6:30 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpazo

Shlomo,

When was this ban lifted? I have a Melkite friend here at Ave Maria University whose father is a priest, but Rome prohibited from getting ordained in the US. He had to go to Israel and was ordained in Haifa. This was three or four years ago.

Alloho minokhoun,
Andrew

Technically the Second Vatican Council lifted it with the document Orientalium ecclesiarum in which the Eastern Churches were told to return to their traditions.

Deacon Ed

Diak · #8 Dec 11, '08, 7:17 am

Actually the "ban" was "lifted" long before Orientalium Ecclesiarum. Cum Data Fuerit had a provision that it had to be renewed by the Holy Father every decade, and Pope Pius XII allowed it to expire around 1950 by not renewing it. There is no ban, formal or informal, so any reticence on ordaining a married man rests with the individual Eastern Catholic hierarchs.

Cardinal Silvestrini already indicated back in the 1980s that Rome would not interfere with the canonical right of Eastern Catholic bishops to ordain their own candidates in North America in accordance with their own particular law.

Some Eastern Catholic Churches have been more hesitant to reinstate the traditional practice than others. My own Eparchy of St. Nicholas (UGCC) has about 65%-70% married parochial clergy. In fact at our last retreat we discussed the possibility of a separate clergy wife's gathering/recollection as there were more than enough to necessitate such a thing.