Posted on 04/04/2014 3:49:02 AM PDT by Weiss White
Q: Recently, a Catholic priest in our area left to become “pastor” of an Episcopal church. If we assume for a moment that the Episcopal liturgy contains the valid words of Institution, and if we assume that valid matter was used, does he confect the Eucharist? –Patrick
A: Sad to say, the case cited by Patrick is far from unique. In certain countries with a sizeable Episcopal community, one far too frequently encounters priests who have left the Catholic Church to join the Church of England—often in order to get married while still remaining in some sort of ministry—and who now function as clergy in an Episcopal/Anglican parish. Since these men were, presumably, validly ordained as Catholic priests, does the Catholic Church regard their non-Catholic ministry as valid?
(Excerpt) Read more at canonlawmadeeasy.com ...
Even more odd - In the parish where I grew up, , an Episcopal minister who was married and had three children, became a priest. Yes, he continued to have his family. ???
What you’re describing is seen more and more; Father Dwight Longenecker is a well-known example. What is your problem with this?
A Catholic Priest Biblically Saved
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VKiv3ZGAWo&feature=youtu.be
Two Former Priests Analyze Catholicism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNksLa_LQM
With God’s grace, even a priest can be saved.
Sola Deo Gloria!
The Protestant world is evidently full of such men: ordained, leading churches, yet, in their hearts, not saved at all. This is a serious problem. How do you propose to fix it?
“The Protestant world is evidently full of such men: ordained, leading churches, yet, in their hearts, not saved at all. This is a serious problem. How do you propose to fix it?”
Protestant and Catholic Churches both have a serious problems. Last days.
“On the other hand, when a Protestant minister becomes Catholic, as have Scott Hahn, Marcus Grodi, Dwight Longenecker, and hundreds of others, “he never really knew Christ to begin with” (quoting one Protestant FReeper).”
Men don’t slip in and out of regeneration.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
—1 John 2:19
“The Protestant world is evidently full of such men: ordained, leading churches, yet, in their hearts, not saved at all. This is a serious problem. How do you propose to fix it?”
We are told there would be tares among the wheat and we are warned of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Knowing that should eliminate all forms of popery. We can’t merely trust the teaching of men. We must be Bereans (Acts 17) and prove that what we are taught is so. The true church, all born again believers, must remain grounded in the Word and repent of sin in their lives and in their congregations. We must be serious about biblical worship. If we were we would repent of all the blasphemy and idolatry in Protestant/ Evangelical churches today.
Being led astray by a false teacher is an awful thing, but each individual is responsible for listening and being misled. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3)
Today’s church world is little different than Israel in Jeremiah’s day: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:31) People being misled by false teachers love to have it so.
There wil come a day when The Lord will separate the wheat from the tares. False teachers will hear the horrible words, “I never knew you. Depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7) In the end we can rest easy because we know all who were been given by the Father to the Son (the elect) will be saved. (John 6:37)
There was an old Freeper here call Mineral Man who, among other things, once interviewed many pastors and priests as part of a research project. He stated (and I do believe him from similar work) that a great many of them either were never Christian or lost it going through seminary. They kept on in the ministry either as a way maintain financial security or because they wanted to give comfort to people that they couldn't give to themselves.
It isn't limited to one group. I have a friend that is a pastor who has stated that he worries about most who go into the ministry. He has a call, many want a job or to run away from a problem.
If he has publicly broken with the Church, surely this demonstrates defect of intent which would make his act invalid.
The author has one bad habit! I wish she could curb it, even a little! I find it annoying! Can you guess what it is!
Is he actually an apostate, or even a heretic. Maybe he’s just a guy who got the hots for some honey and jumped over the fence.
Seriously, his status as a renegade does not imply that he can’t confect the Eucharist. The decision to run off does not imply that he cannot form the intention to consecrate.
The fact that he CAN consecrate validly only makes his crime all the worse.
I would rather a Catholic Priest take the honest path and do this if he cannot reconcile his own beliefs with the Church. Rather than remain in the outward role of a Priest and continually undermine them.
**Before delving into this matter more deeply, it’s important to note that the Code of Canon Law says absolutely nothing about this phenomenon. That, in itself, is not surprising—because by its very nature, canon law presumes good faith on the part of those whom it binds. Put differently, the Church assumes that its members want to be good Catholics, and to do what the Church teaches is correct and just. The whole purpose of canon law is to clarify matters, so as to enable us Catholics to make right choices and to act correctly. Consequently it does not directly address the legal implications of the actions of renegade Catholics who freely and knowingly walk away from the Church, other than to make it clear that they shouldn’t do this!**
Very telling.
First of all, as was already discussed in greater detail in “Can a Priest Ever Return to the Lay State?” once a man is ordained a priest, his priesthood never becomes invalid (c. 290). This is a legal concept firmly rooted in Catholic theology: the Church teaches that ordination—like the sacraments of baptism and confirmation—confers a permanent ontological change on the person receiving it. That’s why these sacraments cannot be received more than once (c. 845.1; cf. also Catechism of the Catholic Church 1582).
It logically follows that once a man is validly ordained a priest, he will always be a priest, and (as per canon 1338.2) no one on earth can take that away from him! Nevertheless, it is canonically possible for an ordained Catholic priest to return to the lay state: Rome can, if it so decides, release a priest from the duties and obligations which are connected with being a cleric (see “Can a Priest Ever Return to the Lay State?” for more on this). Sometimes this is done because the priest requests it; other times, as discussed in “What Does it Mean to Defrock a Priest?” it is imposed as a penalty—but regardless of who initiates it, the end-results are canonically the same.
One result, which is relevant to Patrick’s question, can be found in canon 292, which notes that a priest who has lost the clerical state is prohibited from exercising holy orders. This means, of course, that he must not administer the sacraments, is not permitted to preach, and may not bless anyone/anything. The canon observes that there is only one exception to this rule: in accord with canon 976, a laicized priest is able—and in fact is obliged—to hear the confession of a person in danger of death who requests it. This is because the spiritual well-being of a dying person “trumps” the laicized priest’s obligation to refrain from priestly ministry. (See “Can All Priests Always Hear Confessions?” for more on this scenario.) But apart from this uncommon situation, a priest who has returned to the lay state is not permitted to celebrate the sacraments. Once he has been laicized he is, in short, supposed to be living his life as any other member of the laity.
Fixed the title to make it more accurate.
....Yet still great opportunities to witness to Christ and the Gospel.
We need to pray for all those who care for souls.
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