I know that they can't but....Can they leave the priesthood TO get married? Or just leave the priesthood? Basically is what I'm asking is....Can a priest, ever unbecome a priest? Or would that be a great sin?
Thanks everyone =)
2007-11-12 12:05:55 · 21 answers · asked by Pain Is All I Know 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A priest is always a priest, but he can become a "laicized" priest, which would involve being released from his vows and ministry obligation with the bishop's permission. Then he would be free to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage with a woman who is free to enter into one. He is not to administer the Sacraments except in an emergency, he can hear confessions or perform Last Rites. (Baptism, also, but anybody can do that as long as it's an emergency and they follow the correct formula.)
It is NOT true as somebody said above that they would not be allowed to receive Communion. They can't *celebrate* the Mass, but they most certainly can attend, participate and receive the Holy Eucharist.
Sometimes chronic sin is involved in the laicization of a priest, but not always. Sometimes men have simply entered a different season of their lives and are changing one vocation for another. Michael Dubriel comes to mind -- once a priest and now a married father of two who has authored several books including, "The How-To Book of the Mass".
Regarding deacons, as somebody mentioned above, they are allowed to be married BEFORE they become deacons. If they are not married when they become deacons, then they are expected to remain single. Likewise, there are some Catholic priests who were priests of other faith traditions (usually Anglican) and were married at that time, then when they converted, they were allowed to become Catholic priests AND remain married. There is at least one in the U.S., in Texas, I believe, whose entire Episcopalian congregation converted to Catholicism and he was allowed to remain their priest and keep his wife.
2007-11-13 02:10:04 · answer #1 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for the first question - Can catholic priest's marry? The answer is that only those with the gift of celibacy can enter into the latin catholic priesthood. So yes they can marry, but if they want to be priests then they have to have the gift of celibacy. Priest in the Eastern rite catholic churches can get married.
Can they leave the priesthood to get married?
YES, but first they have to get a dispensation from the Church.
Leave the priesthood?
Once the vows are taken, one had to live the vows. You cannot get married and then just walk out of a marriage, same for the priests, once you take the vows you just can't leave without proper dispensation from the Church.
unbecome a priest?
The sacrament of Holy Orders, like that of baptism, is an interminable mark. Even if one leaves the priesthood without permission he continues to be a priest, although he cannot celebrate the sacraments. But in a grave (urgent) case he can hear confession and give last rites.
2007-11-12 12:42:59 · answer #2 · answered by Victor 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A Catholic priest cannot marry. He can leave the priesthood, and it would not be a sin as long as he does not date or go out with a woman or more while he is a priest. An option that is available to men wanting to join the clergy but not resign to the ability to marry may become Deacons. The only priviledge Deacons do not have is the ability to give confession or consecrate the Eucharist and wine to trans-substantiate it into the body and blood of Christ.
2007-11-12 12:12:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A priest can leave the priesthood and then he can marry.
The sacrament of Holy Orders permenantly changes a person similar to Baptism and Confirmation. Because of this permenent change, technically, he will always be a priest, just a non-practicing one.
Laicization refers to the rather long process in Rome that frees a priest of his duties. A laicized priest is in full communion with the Church. A laicized priest who receives an additional dispensation from celibacy may marry.
With love in Christ.
2007-11-12 15:51:18 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Priest s can be laicized with the pope's permission and can be married in tha Catholic Church but they have to resign from practicing the priesthood. They are still priests forever but can't function as such.
Once ordained deacon or priest one cannot marry or remarry.
Eastern Rite Catholic priests can marry before ordination. Through the Pastoral Provision Anglican and Lutheran married priests who convert to R Catholicism can be ordained and stay married. For the 1st 1000yrs the Catholic Church in the West ordained married men. Clerical celibacy is a discipline of the churchand can be changed
2007-11-12 12:29:31 · answer #5 · answered by James O 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there are Catholic priests who are married. In the Eastern Catholic Churches (no, not the Orthodox), priests may be married. There is also a pastoral provision made for Latin Rite Catholics (what the majority of people think of when they think "Catholic") who were ordained in another tradition and later reconcile to the Church. It is not an automatic transition, but one allowed on a case by case basis.
If a priest, and there are some, who find that they were mistaken regarding their vocation, they may ask for a release from their priestly faculties, though they will always "be" a priest. In such cases, they are not allowed leadership roles in a parish (i.e. teaching, lectoring, etc.) and ordinarily may not be a member of any parish where they have served.
They are still Catholic, though, and are entitled to all the Sacraments.
2007-11-12 12:23:53 · answer #6 · answered by MaH 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not sure if they view it as a sin but yes a priest can leave the priesthood.
2007-11-12 12:08:27 · answer #7 · answered by Bible warrior 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can leave the priesthood. I know someone who did. He got married after he left. He still loves Catholicism and does a lot of community outreach, but he found the priesthood to be stifling his faith.
I also know a nun who gave up her vows, got married and had kids. The convent wasn't for her, but she is still very strictly Catholic.
2007-11-12 12:12:35 · answer #8 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Priests and Nuns can and do leave the calling and some marry others just choose to stay single and do charity work etc.
Yes they can leave and no it's not a sin, they can leave with the church's blessing also if they find that it is not their true calling. The church does not want to hold anyone that does not want to be there, it's not a prison, it's a life choice and a calling.
2007-11-12 12:12:15 · answer #9 · answered by unknown friend 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are allowed to leave the priesthood to marry.
2007-11-12 12:31:04 · answer #10 · answered by Bookworm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋