As many of you know, I am a Protestant. At one time I considered becoming a Catholic because your doctrine is more consise. The reason that I didn't convert is because I'm a licensed minister and wish to remain a minister even if I convert because I know that is what God has called me to do. My problem is that Iwould not be able to live an unmarried life. I currently have a girlfriend and she means the world to me. I hold Jesus first in my life and her second. I know that I can't stand to remain single and I don't want to break Church law by having a girlfriend as a minister. Isn't their any way that I can become a Catholic Priest and still get married. What if I am married first, before I become a Priest?

-- S. Gisewhite (sharvin@acsworld.net), January 08, 2004

Answers

A married man can become a priest in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church, but not usually in the Latin Rite. Married Anglican or Episcopalian priests who convert to Catholicism and wish to become Catholic priests are sometimes allowed to become married Latin Rite priests, but that is not usually extended to other Protestant ministers. A married man can become a deacon in either the Eastern Rite or the Latin Rite. Once you are ordained a priest or deacon in either rite, you cannot marry. If you are married before ordination, and your wife dies at some point after you are ordained, you cannot remarry. (Exceptions are sometimes made for young couples with young children, so the children may have a mother).

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), January 08, 2004.

In addition, the Church has a number of lay ministries that are available. You might want to discuss all this with a vocations director from your local diocese.

In Christ,
Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 08, 2004.

First of all, Sir; a man married or unmarried cannot simply WANT to be ordained. His calling must truly come from God. Presently you have a stronger vocation to the married life (husband and father of a family) than to holy orders. Obviously, God is calling you THERE. You say so clearly yourself, you're in love.

There's nothing wrong with that. Follow the calling which is indicated to you by Our Lord. If He were asking you to become His priest, nothing could stand in your way. Catholic priests are not licensed ministers. And the Catholic faith itself is a commitment you keep with God; a faith that will move mountains. Before you even contemplate converting, make sure of the reasons. You are being called to conversion, I hope. Take what you can get. Priests are called, they don't just choose that career.

When you felt the call to be a minister, it was in good faith. But coming back to the Church is more than just becoming a minister. It will assure your eternal salvation, if you co-operate with Our Holy Saviour. Just do it! Get married, and convert. God will certainly reward you.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), January 08, 2004.

What is the difference between the Eastern Rite and the Latin Rite?

-- S. Gisewhite (sharvin@acsworld.net), January 08, 2004.

What is the difference between the Eastern Rite and the Latin Rite?

The short answer is litergy. The rites all hold the same dogma.

Here more information on the rites in the Catholic Church.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 08, 2004.

For S. Gisewhite

There is a very good tract on why Priests remain celibate here

God Bless

-- Andrew (andyhbk96@hotmail.com), January 09, 2004.

As was explained on another thread on December 20 -----

On the "Byzantine Catholic Page of Faith," the author enumerates twenty-two Eastern Catholic "ritual churches" (not properly called "Eastern Rites")

... We have been accustomed to speaking of the Latin (Roman or Western) "Rite" or the Eastern "Rites" to designate these different churches. However, the Church's contemporary legislation as contained in the Western "Code of Canon Law" and the "Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches" makes it clear that we ought to speak not of "rites," but of "churches." Canon 112 of the Code of Canon Law uses the phrase, "autonomous ritual churches," to designate the various churches.

On this thread, I see "Eastern Rite(s)" misused four times, while "Eastern church(es)" is not used at all. Let us try to break our bad habits.

-- (Let'sBreak@Bad.Habits), January 09, 2004.

Perhaps you are being called to be a deacon. They can do many things similar to what a minister in a Protestant church would do, but they do not consecrate the Eucharist or do some of the other duties of priests.

Have you read any of the excellent books by Scott Hahn or Patrick Madrid? Both are Protestants who joined the Catholic Church after careful study and research. Scott Hahn has "Rome Sweet Home" and Patrick Madrid has the "Surprised by Truth" books.

-- AVC (littleflower1976@yahoo.com), January 12, 2004.

Why don't you contact the folks at the Coming Home Network. I think the url is www.chnetwork.org as they deal in particular with ministers looking to convert.

Marcia

-- Marcia Dietrich (marciadietrich@yahoo.com), January 14, 2004.

Gisewhite,

If you were looking to maybe be of some service to the Church when you convert, you might contemplate and ask God, if becoming a perminant deacon is right for you. Pray to God about it. He will lead you in the right direction.

-- Scott (papasquat1-@hotmail.com), January 23, 2004.

What role does a deacon play in the Catholic Chuch? Specifically please. Thank you and God bless!

-- Shawn Gisewhite (sharvin@acsworld.net), January 27, 2004.

A deacon is a sacramentally ordained minister (Holy Orders) and as such his services are at the disposal of the Bishop. In Holy Orders there are three different groups of ordained ministry: Bishops, Presbyters (Priests) and Deacons, all with varying degrees of responsibility in administering the sacraments. Deacons are involved primarily in three specific areas of ministry: Liturgy of the Word, administering of certain sacraments, and community service.

In the Liturgy of the Word, deacons will proclaim the Good News at mass (read the gospel), preach (give homilies) and teach the faith (some will actually conduct catechism classes in parishes, be responsible for R.C.I.A. classes, etc.). In the absence of a priest, in lieu of a mass, a deacon can conduct what is known as a Liturgy of the Word which is very similar to a mass except that a deacon cannot consecrate bread and wine into the body and blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. That responsibility is given to a priest only. Pre-consecrated Hosts are used in this instance.

As ordained ministers, deacons are permitted to administer certain sacraments. They can witness marriages in the same way priests do, they formally baptize individuals into the faith and they can conduct funeral services.

In their ministry of community service, they visit/assist the poor, the sick, the shut-in, the aged and the dying. In many parishes their role often involves the organization of formal programs to see that all of those in need are attended to.

The role of the deacon was quite prominent in the early days of the Church in assisting the apostles/early Church Bishops. Over the centuries the role of the deacon eventually became nonexistent. With the advent of Vatican II we saw a renewal of the Diaconate (rank or office of Deacon) and a recognition of its true value to Christians and the community at large.

Married men can become deacons but once a married man is ordained a deacon, he cannot remarry should his wife die. Deacons who are unmarried are not permitted to marry.

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), January 27, 2004.

I should qualify my comments above by stating they were primarily intended to describe the office of the “permanent deacon” and not that of the “transitional deacon”. While the duties of both remain virtually identical, the purpose of both ministries are not the same. A transitional deacon is destined to be ordained a priest and his duties as a deacon (the first stage of Holy Orders) usually only last about 6 months. The permanent deacon usually assumes his duties for life.

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), January 27, 2004.

In my diocese, men are transitional deacons for a full year.

-- (Eastern@USA.com), January 27, 2004.