Posted on 07/05/2021 7:06:04 PM PDT by ebb tide
The Rev. Monsignor Howard Lincoln, who celebrated his final mass at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert last week after leading the Catholic congregation for 20 years, has informed members of the church community that he plans to marry a woman as he moves into retirement, church leaders said this weekend.
In a letter dated Saturday and posted on the church’s website, Pastor Gregory Elder and Parochial Vicar Tyler Tripp wrote: “It is with mixed emotion that we share with you the following message: On Wednesday, June 30, at the end of our farewell luncheon for Monsignor Lincoln, he announced to those in attendance his intention to marry a woman with whom he is apparently involved. This announcement surely comes as a shock to the community of Sacred Heart, which Monsignor Lincoln has led for the past 20 years. While he has not formally informed the parish or the Diocese of his intention to marry, many of you have already heard about his announcement at the farewell luncheon so we felt it best to address the issue. We know that this information will generate strong emotions for many and we are here for you in this moment of difficulty.”
Lincoln did not return a phone call from The Desert Sun seeking comment.
In January, Lincoln announced plans to step down from Sacred Heart and Elder was named as his successor. Elder, a priest from Murrieta who was originally ordained as a clergyman in the Anglican church, is one of only a handful of priests in California who is married and has children and grandchildren.
“We know that this information will generate strong emotions for many and we are here for you in this moment of difficulty.”
Lincoln told The Desert Sun in January that said that only about one in a thousand Catholic priests in the state are married. Elder, Lincoln said at the time, would bring a unique perspective and be able to relate to parishioners in ways that few priests can.
“He’s a better preacher than I am,” Lincoln said, “and he’s really a terrific replacement.”
Full text of the letter to parishioners:
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is with mixed emotion that we share with you the following message:
On Wednesday, June 30, at the end of our farewell luncheon for Monsignor Lincoln, he announced to those in attendance his intention to marry a woman with whom he is apparently involved. This announcement surely comes as a shock to the community of Sacred Heart, which Monsignor Lincoln has led for the past 20 years. While he has not formally informed the parish or the Diocese of his intention to marry, many of you have already heard about his announcement at the farewell luncheon so we felt it best to address the issue. We know that this information will generate strong emotions for many and we are here for you in this moment of difficulty. Let us continue to pray for our parish community, for the Diocese and for Msgr. Lincoln.
According to canon law, any priest who attempts marriage, even civilly, incurs an automatic suspension because such an action constitutes a break of the promise of celibacy made at the ordination. This means that he cannot exercise any priestly ministry. The suspension is imposed by the law itself, not by the bishop. A priest under this penalty is not able to celebrate the sacraments or perform any priestly ministry until such time as the situation is resolved.
We are here for you and we ask for your prayers for our parish, our staff, and all involved. Please know of our prayers for you in this time of transition in the parish.
Rev. Gregory Elder, Pastor
Rev. Tyler Tripp, Parochial Vicar
Meanwhile, a priest friend in California writes of this: “It’s a 9.0 on the Richter scale. He is on the Papal Foundation and a major media celebrity out here.”
We’ll all be curious to hear what Monsignor Lincoln has to say about this.
Meanwhile, a priest friend in California writes of this: “It’s a 9.0 on the Richter scale. He is on the Papal Foundation and a major media celebrity out here.”
Will Bobby Barron another major media celebrity priest in California follow suit? If not, will he comment?
Ping
“....has informed members of the church community that he plans to marry a woman...”
Whew!
Hey! At least he is marrying a woman.
“that he plans to marry a woman”
************************************************************
Well, that’s must be a surprise...
Ok, father, come clean here. What does “involved with” mean?
Magazine cartoon showing two priests walking along:
“No, I don’t think the Church will allow marriage of priests.
Not in our time but it will in our children’s time.”
YUp. The opposite sex. The way it should be. Not some gross fag.
Good! End the scourge of “celibacy” once and for all.
I have heard that church doctrine is basically, “once a priest, always a priest”, and that he would become a “laicized priest”, with this retirement and marriage. That’s what I’ve heard anyway, that a priest has received the sacrament of Holy Orders, and that this sacrament cannot be repealed. Any one who knows more, please let us know.
Bit of a tempest at a local Catholic church a few years ago. They got a new priest that was married, and one of the existing priests decided to get married as well. The Bishop wasn’t happy.
Priest who married my wife and me is now married with several kids. He was banging the parish youth activities coordinator for years.
The priest who married my SIL and her husband now lives with a....dude.
The Church is crumbling.
A woman?
Shouldn’t Frances excommunicate him for homophobia?
Hear, here! With all the threads about pro-LGBTQRSTUVQXYZ activist priests and bishops lately, many of them mentioning my own bishop by name, a monsignor leaving the priesthood to marry a woman is kind of refreshing! This is a sad state of affairs.
Yes, what were our Lord and Saint Paul thinking in recommending it?
BUT, what exactly is a woman?
We should be relieved that it’s a woman.
That’s the way to do it, if celibacy cannot be maintained by yourself.
I’ve met Msgr Lincoln, as his parish hosts the only Traditional Latin Mass in that area where I have business interests. I will say that I’ve always perceived him to be a decent man. (1) I don’t know if he has ever said the TLM himself, but I do know that he gores out of his way to make sure that the faithful have access to the TLM at his parish. (2) As others have surmised, he’s not gay/effeminate.
I don’t know quite what to make of this turn of events. It’s disappointing, I suppose, that he’s not living up to his vows, but he’s certainly not the first nor the worst in this regard. I will keep him in my prayers.
I have heard it said that this is a discipline, not a doctrine. In other words, it could actually be changed. But this discipline has its pros and cons, and changing something major in the Church is like turning around an aircraft carrier. Be patient.
Good for him. At least he isn’t marrying another man.
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