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Category Archives: Holy Orders
Can I Become a Priest, If I Have an Illegitimate Child?
Q1: I have been discerning a call to the priesthood … [and] I have met with the vocations director and the bishop of this diocese. The bishop said I cannot be ordained a priest because I have a child out … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, illegitimate, ordain, ordination, priest
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Can a Laicized Priest Return to the Priesthood?
Q: I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of X, and then left the priesthood to get married. Here I am sixteen years later, the marriage ended, no children. I have been reassessing my life … [and concluding that] … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, holy orders, laicization, laicized, ordination, priest, priesthood
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Can a Latin Catholic Man Enter an Eastern Catholic Seminary?
Q: My 17-year-old son wishes to pursue his vocation to the priesthood in the Byzantine Rite (having been mostly raised in this rite) even though both of us parents are Roman Rite. Our Byzantine pastor informs us that we parents … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, Church sui iuris, eastern Catholic, seminarian, seminary
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Why Would a Bishop Refuse to Ordain a Seminarian?
Q: I was a seminarian for nearly five years, and in fifth year I was suddenly and unexpectedly dismissed as a seminarian by the bishop. He gave me three reasons for the dismissal, each of which I protested. For example, … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, ordain, ordination, priest, priesthood, seminarian, seminary
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How Can A Priest’s Ministry Be Illicit?
Q: I am a seminarian, and recently heard a priest tell a story of when he was a catechist, prior to seminary, and had to do a communion service. He had expected a priest to show up and start Mass … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, illiceity, illicit, irregularity, ordination, priest
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