Married Priests

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There are thousands of validly married Roman Catholic priests, members of the Eastern Rite (not Eastern Orthodox) churches that do not have a vow of celibacy. Melkite Rite Roman Catholic priests are allowed to marry, but not while exercising priestly ministry in the West. In spite of this, 3 married Melkite Rite priests are serving in the U.S. The Vatican censured them, but has taken no action against them. All Latin Rite (which is the norm for American Catholicism) priests must be unmarried.

POST VATICAN II

In December, 1977, a Guatamalan Roman Catholic priest, Salvador Valenzuela, was married to Maria Lopez by a Roman Catholic priest, Carlos Palencia. Within 3 days, Valenzuela was excommunicated, told that his marriage was invalid and that he was no longer a priest.

It is reported there is a strong feeling among Polish Roman Catholics for an end to the law of celibacy. Some had thought that the Polish Pope might initiate this, but the first years of his reign have shown very conservative leanings, so such a change during the pontificate of John Paul II seems unlikely.

CATHOLIC JOURNALS

From COLUMBIA, Nov. 1990. "Father (Stephen) Sutton (of Baltimore, Maryland) was one of the first to benefit from the 'pastoral provision' granted by Pope John Paul II in 1980, which allowed married Episcopal priests to be accepted into the Catholic priesthood in the United States.

RELIGIOUS JOURNALS

From CHRISTIAN CENTURY, 11/14/90. A Brazilian cardinal has disclosed that two married men in Brazil have become priests with papal approval. The Catholic Church has allowed married ministers who convert from other denominations to remain married, but their ordinations appear to be the first where married Roman Catholics have become priests. Unlike converts, who may continue to live normal married lives, the two Brazilians were ordained on the condition that they live with their wives as "brother and sister" and abstain from sex.

SECULAR JOURNALS

From THE DAY, New London, Ct, 10/28/90. "A worldwide gathering of bishops, affirming celibacy in the priesthood, urged Pope John Paul II to make it clear that the controversial rule won't be changed. The pope was quick to take up the invitation. He told the bishops that although there is a shortage of priests in some parts of the world, ordaining married men is not the solution."

From St. Paul PIONEER PRESS, 6/22/91. "THIS CATHOLIC PRIEST NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE VOW OF CELIBACY." Report of Rev. Walter Mitchell and his wife Noel. His age is not given, she is 62.

On June 3, he became the first married person to be ordained in Miami. "Father Mitch" is quoted as saying, "I think priests should have the option of being married." He is an ex-Episcopalian priest. His conversion to Catholicism was "something of an evolution."

He is one of over 50 Episcopalian priests to be converted to Catholicism, and they are welcomed to the Roman priesthood because they never took vows of celibacy. On the other hand, R.C. priests who took the vow (because they were obliged to) cannot licitly marry even if they have left the church. Some who have left and married now desire to return but are not allowed. Married Catholics can become priests as did two Brazilians recently, but they must agree to a brother/sister relation with their wife.

Terence Dosh of Minneapolis heads a group of 5,500 married priests who want to be clergymen again. He said, "I am happy that Walter has found faith and wants to celebrate as a Catholic priest. What bothers me is the double standards...They can't possible justify ordaining this guy and not guys...who already are priests."

From Rocky Mountain News, 8/23/93. "Married, defrocked Catholic priests and families celebrate Mass in Spain.

"Hundreds of defrocked Roman Catholic priests and their wives and children celebrated Mass Sunday - an act they said was not a challenge to the Vatican but rather a model for the church to follow.

'While Pope John Paul II continues to uphold an 8-century rule that priests be celibate men, those who have started families insist theirs is the Christian way and the way of the future.

"They made no demands on Rome. It is, they said, only a matter of time before the Church falls into line with them....

"The Federation (of Married Catholic Priests) , which has members from 27 countries, estimates there could be as many as 10,000 priests worldwide defrocked because they chose to marry.

"John Paul said last month that celibacy is not essential to the nature of the priesthood, but still will be required of clergymen.

"Insistence on celibacy is one of the main reasons cited for the church's increasing difficulties in attracting candidates to the priesthood."

OUTLAW PRIESTS OF PERU

Jose Zarate was eating breakfast with his wife and three children when the telephone rang. A merchant wanted him to bless his new medical supplies shop

Packing his Bible, crucifix and holy water in a black case, Zarate headed off.

He is one of dozens of married men officially stripped of their priesthoods by the Roman Catholic Church but who continue giving services in the Andes mountains in a widely accepted outlaw priesthood.

The defrocked priests say they are only being open about a practice not uncommon among Catholic priests in Peru. Zarate estimates more than 80% of priests in Peru have wives, often children. He added, "It time for the Catholic hierarchy to end the hypocrisy and make the celibacy of priests optional."