41 - 46 of 46 Comments

1. Kerstin Geiger

   2 years ago

   I am a Lutheran currently in process to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. My journey has been a long one, and the events of last August with my own ELCA has forced me to make a decision. But there is also a larger question: why are Lutherans still separated from the Catholic Church in the first place? The issues Martin Luther adressed A.D. 1517 are either resolved or out of date. We should have been reunited a long time ago.
   

2. john

   2 years ago

   It's time to begin an "official" serious discussion/debate on the merits of an expanded married priesthood in our church. As pointed out by this article and some of these comments, there already ARE married priests and clergy in the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Church. The overwhelming success of the permanent (mostly married) diaconate, the over 100 married U.S. married priests ordained under the pastoral provision, the many Eastern Rite married priests, and now the prelature allowing for converting Anglican congregrations with married priests -- all attest to the validity and efficacy of a married priesthood that can (and does) work alongside our very gifted and valued celibate priests!
   
   Celibacy IS a gift to the church and priesthood. It is a radical witness to a call to holiness that reflects the covenantal relationship between Christ and His Church. But so too is the Sacrament of Marriage. If lived sacramentally, marriage too is a radical call to holines that reflects the same covenantal relationship in a different rakical way that can be a powerful witness to our hedonistic society! Married priesthood is a spiritual, radical call to holiness just as a celibate priesthood is. Isn't that what our church really needs? -- Holy priests?

3. Cliff

   2 years ago

   This article is condescending in many regards, including taking Lutherans into "full communion" into the Catholic Church.
   
   First of all, I know of no conservative, orthodox, confessional Lutherans who would seek this union. If you are speaking about the liberal wing of Lutheranism, perhaps you may get a few of them as their denomination is in a free fall. They have thrown out historical confessional Lutheranism out the door, and are in desperate straits. Do you really want them in the Catholic Church?
   
   As for more faithful confessional Lutherans, you will have a very difficult time convincing them to "sell their birthright" and join something they have historically opposed for centuries.
   
   By making headline news out of a few defectors is not the credible thing to do.
   
   
   A hard core Lutheran.

4. Doc G

   2 years ago

   Nino, our Eastern Rite Roman Catholic brothers who are married may be ordained priests. So we would not be introducing married priests into the Church - they are already here and have been forever.
   I do believe that they may not become Bishops, tho. As to the Lutherans, I don't know whether or not their tradition in this matter would continue. Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Anglicans who are petitioning Rome for full communion will be dropping their tradition of allowing married men to become priests. I would think that it would be the same for the Lutherans and, probably, for any Church that would be considered part of our Western Rite and tradition.
   As to the laity's confusion, well, this would be a great time to educate them. You'd be amazed how little Catholic faithful know about their Church. These are things I learned back in Catholic grammar and high school back in the 50's and 60's.
   Back in the eighth grade we learned about the different rites and had the opportunity to go to Divine Liturgy at St. Basil's Melkite Seminary in Methuen, MA. It is hauntingly beautiful, AND they were receiving communion under both species as they always had!
   Find an Eastern Rite parish and go to Liturgy there some Sunday (it will count as your Sunday obligation). Go and see another panel in the great quilt that God has sewn that is His Catholic Church.

5. Nino Baldino

   2 years ago

   To me this is an error of immense proportions..just make these 'converts' with their wives and children..Deacons..why make them 'priests' this will only weaken the church even more for if one can come in from error bringing ones wife and children,,then why not a priest already in the door who falls in love with whomever etc..whats fair is fair..no this is the camel in the tent and more then its nose is already in ...............will there ever be light it seems to get darker and darker...

6. Bulbajer

   2 years ago

   Hooray for ecumenism!

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