Former Anglican priest ordained Catholic priest in San Francisco

Catholic News Service ^ | December 29, 2003

[NYer]

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Archbishop William J. Levada of San Francisco ordained Father James Livingstone, a married former Anglican priest, to the Catholic priesthood Dec. 20. "He is the first such married man to be ordained a priest for the archdiocese," the archbishop said. Father Livingstone was ordained in the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1975, and has served in teaching, prison ministry and parish ministry. He was a pastor of U.S. Episcopal congregations in New Hampshire and South Carolina before he moved to San Mateo, Calif., in 1990. He headed an Episcopal congregation there until he made his profession of faith as a Roman Catholic. "Since 1998, when he first petitioned me to consider him for Catholic ordination, he has been patiently pursuing a review of Catholic theology and practice with private tutors," Archbishop Levada wrote Dec. 5 in a column announcing the ordination in his archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic San Francisco.

[NYer]

A remarkable letter in its clarity and comprehensiveness. An excellent treatment of the Anglican issue. This shepherd's flock seems to be in good hands.

Thank you for the positive feedback on Archbishop Levada's comments, regarding the Episcopal Church in America. Shepherding the San Francisco flock is, I am certain, quite a challenge.

It is through watching Marcus Grodi's program, The Journey Home, that I have developed a fuller understanding of the married priest provision. Not all married clergy who convert and seek to serve as priests, are accepted. In fact, far from it! The program is broadcast live and the guest takes questions from callers or via email. On a recent program, the caller was a female minister. She spoke of the challenge confronting her. On the one hand, she had reached the point of conversion; on the other, she held back because the Catholic Church does not recognize female ministers. Grodi handled this excellently, speaking from his personal experience and that of other ministers with whom he is working.

[Tantumergo]

"Put another way, everyone properly in the priesthood properly accepted celibacy."

Sure - absolutely! Its just scary how many probably aren't properly in the priesthood.

"This is something that is never going to change."

Don't you know that we stopped using language like that at Vatican II? The idea that anything in the Church can never change is just plain rigid intransigence - your kind of Catholicism is a thing of the past! (sarcasm off)

[polemikos]

Its just scary how many probably aren't properly in the priesthood.

No argument there. :-o

your kind of Catholicism is a thing of the past!

Where's the Spanish Inquisition when you really need one?

[Catholicguy]

Perhaps he hasn't heard that ARCIC has passed on! The ARCIC is no more! It has ceased to be! 'It's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! ARCIC's a stiff! Bereft of life, It rests in peace! ARCIC's ecumenical processes are now 'istory! ARCIC's kicked the bucket, It's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-ECUMENICAL EFFORT

[sinkspur]

Church discipline is the pope's domain. Civil responsibilities such as waging war and applying the death penalty are not. It's the same irreverance.

Now it makes sense.

Opposition to the Pope's view on celibacy is as serious as disagreeing with the teaching on Transubstantiation, but opposition to the Pope's view on killing somebody is something I can take or leave.

Got it.

[Tantumergo]

"Where's the Spanish Inquisition when you really need one?"

Exactly - why is no-one campaigning for Torquemada's canonisation? Nowhere in the gospels does it mention lack of tolerance as being sinful!!!

[Tantumergo]

LOL! - unfortunately that is only the Norwegian Blue ARCIC. The Seattle variety is being resurrected in the spring to release a statement on the BVM.

And then of course there is son of ARCIC - IARCCUM which is just temporarily dormant until the Anglicans can get their butt-fu####s back in the closet!

[Campion]

This is something that is never going to change.

If it ever did, it would demonstrate that the Church is not who and what she says she is. It would be the end of Catholicism, and the only place for the orthodox to go would be a sedevacantist traditionalist sect (because, well, they would have been right all along), or the conservative wing of Eastern Orthodoxy (likewise).

[johnb2004]

I think sinky is a female. No deacon. I also do not believe the stories about forced ordinations. Sounds like someone has some psych issues.

[Codie]

Why is it you are always to be found in the middle of a controversy? You are a strange Catholic.

[Desdemona]

I also do not believe the stories about forced ordinations.

I don't either. No one can force anyone to do anything without permission.

[old and tired]

There's an awful lot of vitriol on this thread.

Yes, yes, sinkspur would like to be a married priest. I cannot imagine the pain of feeling called to something that refuses to accept you as you are. (Actually, I can - neither the Phils nor the A's would ever take me as a starting pitcher, but that's another story). I would hate to lose sinkspur on this forum. I think he speaks for an awful lot of folks in the pews, and I appreciate hearing that voice.

I also remember being particularly gratified one time when sinkspur brought his experience of distributing the Eucharist - he stated that it would be nearly impossible for bishops to spot the scandalous pro-abort politicians in the communion line.

I do have a question about you being a deacon, sinkspur. I have been lurking on FR for many years, and I had it in my mind that you were ordained a transitional deacon many years ago, but then received dispensation to marry. Is that correct? If so, you are not currently in an active diaconate ministry - is that right?

[Catholicguy]

Yes, yes, sinkspur would like to be a married priest. I cannot imagine the pain of feeling called to something that refuses to accept you as you are.

If one "feels" themselves called to a vocation which has requirements one is not willing to accept, then one is being confronted with the truth one does not really have a vocation.

I would hate to lose sinkspur on this forum. I think he speaks for an awful lot of folks in the pews, and I appreciate hearing that voice.

I haven't read anyone calling for his banishment.

I also remember being particularly gratified one time when sinkspur brought his experience of distributing the Eucharist - he stated that it would be nearly impossible for bishops to spot the scandalous pro-abort politicians in the communion line.

Did sinkspur refuse Communion to those proaborts?

If he did, was he positive that proabort hadn't repented at Confession on Saturday and was worthy to receive Communion?

I do have a question about you being a deacon, sinkspur. I have been lurking on FR for many years, and I had it in my mind that you were ordained a transitional deacon many years ago, but then received dispensation to marry. Is that correct? If so, you are not currently in an active diaconate ministry - is that right

This sounds interesting...

BTW, what do you think about Sinkspure violating Canon Law? As a sinkspur-supporting pew denizen, tell me how that is justified. Thanks.

[johnb2004]

"I think he speaks for an awful lot of folks in the pews, and I appreciate hearing that voice."

I assume you mean the voice of dissent and disobedience? One who makes their conscience a teacher rather than a pupil?

What the Church needs are manly, devout priests with testicular fortitude. Men who give sermons where some may walk out. Just as some walked away from Jesus. Truth is a sword that divides. Men who denounce error!

[Tantumergo]

You guys may think that sinkspur is some kind of radical leftist rebel, but when you look at the mainstream of the current Church he is actually much more conservative than your average cleric or layman.

The opinions he expresses on the issue of married priests are not as radical as some senior clergy who have been mouthing off today:


Celibacy of Catholic priests 'breaking down' around the world
By Stephen Bates
London
December 30, 2003

Priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church has largely broken down in many parts of the world, according to Father Timothy Radcliffe, former master-general of the Dominican Order, which has 200,000 members worldwide.

Father Radcliffe, now a monk in Oxford but tipped by some as a leader of the Catholic Church in England, said the church might have to consider ordaining married priests.

On BBC radio he said: "It is clearly the case that in many parts of the world celibacy has actually largely broken down - in many countries in Latin America, parts of Africa, to some extent in the United States.

"If it turns out to be the case that it is being largely ignored or bypassed, then ... a very negative witness is being given; and so we have to ask is it possible now - either we have to provide celibate priests with considerably more support or we have to explore the possibility of them being married."

The Vatican and the Pope have rejected any suggestion of altering the 1200-year-old rule, but there is growing alarm that the number of men training for the priesthood in Europe and the US is declining, and that many are believed to be homosexual.

The Pope blames the decline in new priests and the steady exodus of others to marry on moral decadence and indiscipline in the Western world.

The Catholic Church in England has already relaxed the rule to some extent by letting some married Anglican priests who left the Church of England remain in holy orders. Cambridge professor of the history of Christianity Eamon Duffy said: "There is a real danger in the Western Catholic Church that the clergy will become a profession for homosexuals."

He said many were marvellous priests but "I think everybody sees that it would be undesirable to have the clergy predominantly homosexual."

- Guardian

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/29/1072546470078.html

[torqemada]

I had lovely plumage, though, eh?

[torqemada]

Saint Torqemada...has a nice ring to it.

[johnb2004]

I see your article as one more example in favor of celibacy. Too often Church leaders or members look to secular answers instead of the divine. Some can't imagine that the Church could survive unless this would change or that would change.

[Tantumergo]

"I see your article as one more example in favor of celibacy."

Puhleeese! - Its not MY article - I just found it on TCR!

I am certainly no fan of Timothy Radcliffe.

However, if I was going to play devil's advocate I might suggest that many traditionalist/conservative Catholics would be happier with queer priests than they would be with married priests! ;)

[sinkspur]

However, if I was going to play devil's advocate I might suggest that many traditionalist/conservative Catholics would be happier with queer priests than they would be with married priests! ;)

Bada-boom, bada-bing!

LOL!!!!