Australian Priest announces he has a wife, claims there are more like him

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
5/3/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The now dismissed priest tries to use his action as basis for dissent

A Catholic priest in Australia has confessed to the public that he was secretly married last year. Now former Father Kevin Lee of Padre Pio parish in Glenmore Park, Australia, says the Church should relax its rules on celbacy for priests.

Former priest, Kevin Lee of Padre Pio parish in Glenmore Park, Australia

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (Catholic Online) - Lee also claimed in an opinion offered to Australia's Seven Network that, "There is a connection between the fact that the church commits people to celibacy and yet there's so many abuses and scandals that have been hidden behind that cloak of celibacy."

Lee referred to a recent sex scandal involving another priest that was publicized on the same day of his secret marriage in an effort to make such a connection. Of course, it proves nothing. Lee also confessed to having a series of girlfriends during his 20-year tenure as a priest.

The priest was immediately removed from ministry. He certainly excommunicated himself by his own action. A consecrated celibate priest cannot enter into marriage.

In the Roman Catholic Church, men who are called forth to orders in priestly ministry pledge to remain celibate. This is an ancient practice, with biblical and early Christian roots. They are set aside to be a sign of the life to come where there will be no giving or taking in marriage.

Consecrated celibacy also makes the priest more available for pastoral service to the whole Church.  There is a different practice and discipline in Eastern Catholic Churches. It is also ancient. In the Eastern Catholic churches, only celibate priests can be called forth to the office of Bishop.

In both Roman and Eastern Catholic Churches, both married and celibate men can be called to ordination as deacons. However, the married deacons pledge to remain cleibate ifthey lose their wives.

Some priests have broken their vow of celibacy. Others are seeking to use this in a kind of pressure movement to persuade the Church to abandon this ancient discipline. others, like Lee claim there are others like him that are also secretly married or dating women. He said he intends to reveal the names of others who are living secret lives like himself.

Bishop Anthony Fisher, the head of Lee's diocese said, "As Father Kevin is aware, by his actions he can no longer operate as a priest and as a result I will immediately be appointing an administrator to Padre Pio parish." Fisher also denied the allegation that most priests live secret double lives.

In recent years, Pope Benedict XVI has dealt with the issues attendant to marriage and Holy Orders on several fronts. He has regularly affirmed the ancient practice in the West of choosing only celibate men for the priesthood.

Some members of the Church have used this issue to dissent. They do not ask the question properly, "whether married men should ever be allowed to be ordained as priests in the Catholic Church". Instead they "demand" that priests already ordained, having pledged to remain celibate, be allowed to be dispensed from that vow and marry.

Still some others have called for something which is never going to happen, the ordination to the priesthood of women. Finally, some call for the abandonment of fundamental Christian morality such as the acceptance of homosexual practice.

Pope Benedict has made it clear that such dissent from the teaching of the Church will not change the teaching and discipline of the Church.

The teachings of scripture, the traditipon and discipline of the Church, and her mission, cannot be altered by the political climate or from pressure groups outside or insideher membership.

Scandals will occur, but the Church will always abide in Christ and will continue to tirelessly fulfill its mission (Matthew 16:18-19).

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Lee, Australia, priest, marriage, celibacy, dissent

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 33 Comments

rosanne santos
1 year ago
So God called this priest to priesthood and then to marriage. What's wrong with that? Marriage is a sacrament, a grace and symbol of heaven. God is love and this priest and his spouse fell in love and live in love and those who live in love live in God according to John.

If anything, we are the sinners for kicking out priests who marry during a critical shortage of priests. Celibacy is a man-made law; marriage is divine and love is divine. Today we have 50,000 churches that have no priest due to a severe shortage of priests. What would Jesus do? Certainly, he would NOT dismiss priests who marry; he had mainly married apostles. Jesus commanded love, not celibacy (Paul says, "Regarding celibacy i have no command from the Lord") but Jesus commanded love and it is not loving to disallow access to sacraments because of a critical shortage of priests. We have twice the number of Catholics per priest today than we had in the 1970's (see website -Center for applied research in the apostolate-frequently requested church statistics).
Dieudonne Avogo
1 year ago
May God give our Catholic leaders the wisdom to resolve the issue celibate priests within our church. Those priests who want to get married and still be committed to the mission of Christ, and who beleive that they will still perform the religious duties, the church should allow them to get married, unless this will affect their ability to carry the duties of the church.
everett mann
1 year ago
How hypocritical is it to say you support families and marriage in one breath and in the next say you oppose priests being married?
Alot of talk here about natural and man-made law. No natural law says priests cannot marry. Only man-made law says that.
eithena
1 year ago
Last i heard there is only one POPE and one CHURCH I follow MY PAPA and WHAT HE SAY,S GOES with me ;sneaky is as sneaky does; you are not the light of CHRIST you are sneaky and you are not even true to the person you married i wanted to use juicey words but am a good catholic am not sneaky GET OFF AND SIT AND SPEND TIME WITH JESUS YOUR ON THE WRONG ROAD HE WILL PUT YOU RIGHT
christie
1 year ago
St. Joseph, patron of the Catholic church pray for the parishioners, who suffer shock and disappointment in this example of public sin. I strongly believe that Christ restores His church, the Holy Spirit consoles and sanctifies. All will be well, in Jesus name. Amen.
Luis from Orlando FL
1 year ago
Why are we so quick to judge and condemn? 1 John 1:8 reminds us that "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Was it not our Savior Jesus Christ who looked past the sins of the sinner? John 8:3-11 "[3] And the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, [4] And said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. [5] Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou? [6] And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. [John 8:7] [Latin] [8] And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground. [9] But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. [10] Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?"

Lord I pray that You hear my plea, the pleas of this humble and contrite sinner who would otherwise be in a dark and desolate place without Your Grace and Spirit. I beg that You teach me to love as You did, to forgive as You do. That Your Holy Spirit guide our hearts and our ways. My prayers and their intentions are offered for Fr. Kev, his former Bishop and all the members of our family in Christ whom are searching to find Your ways. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I ask and pray, amen.

[11] Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.
Terence D'Souza
1 year ago
I'm from India and I have grown up deeply respecting priests and nuns for the Christlike values they portray to us through the daily lives they lead. These incidents such as what we now know of Kevin Lee happen the world over; some come to light and others do not.
I cannot judge but the vow of celibacy is taken by priests when they are adults and with full knowledge and consent. Besides, they have ample time in their seminary formation years till Ordination to know exactly what they have accepted and with enough opportunity to test their resolve as well as leave if they find that vow too difficult to live by. Therefore I think the Church is correct in defrocking Kevin as a serving Catholic priest. I believe that instead of acknowledging a serious mistake committed he should not try and deflect it by portraying the role of a supporter of relaxing celibacy among Catholic priests. It sounds hollow as one does not have to be a priest who marries to take up such an issue. Much like an already married lay man or woman, who decides to marry a second time or live with another person, then advocating the church should allow multiple wives or husbands. As empowered and enshrined in the Catholic Church tenets, the Bishop has done the right thing. Thereafter Jesus is the judge and Kevin is answerable to Him.
I endorse wholeheartedly, the decision of Pope Benedict and the last two statements of the article, which I have quoted below:

"The teachings of scripture, the tradition and discipline of the Church, and her mission, cannot be altered by the political climate or from pressure groups outside or inside her membership.

Scandals will occur, but the Church will always abide in Christ and will continue to tirelessly fulfill its mission"
Vance
1 year ago
Here is another priest who needs to go do something else with his time. Continue to be Catholic BUT not a priest.
Narob
1 year ago
He made choice, he broke his vows and now must go.
mgm.
1 year ago
Was'nt celbacy a medieval law enforced to counter the fact that Churchmen were looking out for their family members by placing them in postions in the Church it was enforce to insure Churchmen looked out after their people and the Church's interest first?Like posted below why should Eastern Rite be allowed to marry and Latin not. Church leadership positions are not handed out to priest because their uncle is the Duke of Burgundy anymore.

Prev12 3 4 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment