Can Priests Have Kids?

[bigsierra]

Can widowers become priests? Can men that had children out of wedlock or in an invalid marriage become priests?

 

[Roald]

Widowers can become priests. Men that had children out of wedlock are not supposed to.

 

[Dream]

Would Protestants object to the Priest's children calling him "father?"

 

[bigsierra]

What if the widower was in his 20's or 30's and had a couple of little kids? Would the kids have to be a certain age, so he could focus on his ministry?

 

[FullyMT]

If the children are no longer dependent on him, I THINK (meaning I could be wrong) he could become a priest. I believe the same thing goes for women who wish to become nuns/sisters.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

I know, Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit won't ordaine any priests with children.

 

[Paul S]

Yes, men with children can become priests, if the bishop allows.

Canons 1041 and 1042 specify what makes a man unable to receive orders; having children is not listed (although being married is).

All of these impediments and irregularities can be dispensed. Some dispensations are reserved to the Holy See, including the ordination of married me, while others may be dispensed by the local bishop.

 

[gtsecc]

Could a celebate Priest adopt?

 

[InnerPhyre]

The only widowers I have known to be priests were men who lost their wives and then waited until their children were grown and moved out of the house before applying to seminary.

 

[Carrye]

Could a celebate Priest adopt?

No. But I believe that if someone died and left him children, that would be all right. I'm not positive though.

 

[Metanoia02]

What if the widower was in his 20's or 30's and had a couple of little kids? Would the kids have to be a certain age, so he could focus on his ministry?

Before considering wether or not this person could fulfill his duties to be a priest, the first consideration is how will the children be taken care of while the father is in seminary. It not like he can take night classes. I highly doubt any bishop would allow a father to basically abandon his children to enter the seminary.

This is some thing that is often overlooked when people come up with solutions to the vocations problem. The education of priests in seminary is vital to the formation of future priests. It is not an environment that is conducive to married men or me who have children they are responsible.

 

[Roald]

Some dispensations are reserved to the Holy See, including the ordination of married me

You're an ordained, married priest?

 

[Carrye]

You're an ordained, married priest?

No. I think he just missed the 'n' on "men".

 

[The Story Teller]

Yes, I think every priest should have a baby goat..

 

[Paul S]

No. I think he just missed the 'n' on "men".

Oops.

You're right; I left out the "n". I'm neither ordained nor married, but hoping God's plan for me is one of the two.

 

[Maggie893]

I know of a man who is in his late 40's, has grandchildren and he is just now begining his priestly formation. He had divorced his wife many years ago and upon returning to the Church pursued, for many, many years, an annullment which he finally received. Then he waited a few more years before entering seminary.

 

[krstlros]

There is a special dispensation when a Episcapalian priest converts to Catholicism, he may, if he already is, remain married and still be a priest. I know there are some here in the U.S., I just can't tell you where.

I read a man who became a Priest soon after the ordination of his son. He had been a widower for many years, and decided to take vows.

As for adoption, I know only of one instnace where a Priest was allowed to adopt. And there were specific stipulations from his Bishop before he was able to do so.

 

[krstlros]

Oh, and to clarify something, male Episcapalian married Priests can only become Catholic priests.

 

[Michael G]

Canons 1041 and 1042 specify what makes a man unable to receive orders; having children is not listed (although being married is).

How is it that celibacy is considered an optional discipline by the Catholic Church and yet being married is an impediment to Holy Orders? That never made any sense to me, even when I was still Catholic.

 

[Paul S]

How is it that celibacy is considered an optional discipline by the Catholic Church and yet being married is an impediment to Holy Orders? That never made any sense to me, even when I was still Catholic.

Basically, because the Church says so. "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

The Church could ordain married men if she so chose, but currently, in the Latin rite, generally chooses not to. Likewise, celibacy is not optional for the priest, but a required discipline of the Church he must follow. All impediments and irregularities are discipline; if they weren't, they couldn't be dispensed.