"The need compels me": The Bishop of Antwerp advances his plan to ordain married men as priests in 2028
The Bishop of Antwerp, Belgium, Johan Bonny, has begun training several married men with the intention of ordaining them as priests in 2028. The project, publicly announced in March, has advanced…
19 comments:
I've said this many times: Leo needs to publicly rebuke and discipline this "Bishop" as well as the many recalcitrant German clergymen. Stop tippy toeing around. "Roma locuta, causa finita est"
Satan is not only the Deceiver, but he is also the Accuser. He tempts us, he gets us to excuse sin by pointing out that others have done the same thing and are doing so now. And when we give in or make a mistake he shouts at us, “NOW YOU’VE DONE IT!” The Left has imbibed this lesson and carries the same mindset. For decades they bemoaned and even mocked those who fought communism and distrusted Russia. Yet when candidate Trump talked about Russia’s interest in American politics, they JUMPED on his words, twisted them with carefully manufactured outrage and were appalled, APPALLED at the possibility that Trump would say such things, even manufacturing evidence to achieve their end of destroying Trump. (I say this not as a Trump apologist, but simply to point out how the Left operates). And so it goes with the leftward turn of Catholic leadership. In the distorted name of empathy and compassion our leaders have moved away from the unchanging nature of God to a man-made notion of a “more just Church”, excusing every deviation from doctrine and every act of disobedience unless the most loyally faithful and the timelessness of Tradition are involved? Altar girls? No problem. Pachamama? Of course! Liturgical experimentation and deviations? Why not? Disobey the rubrics? Who cares? Desire the Traditional Sacraments and have a willingness to suffer injustice for them? HOW DARE YOU? YOU HERETICS! YOU APOSTATES! WE WILL THROW THE FULL FORCE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH AT YOU and condemn you as pariahs. Satan’s playbook has been copped. It’s kinda sickening watching how its used.
Jerome Merwick, you will find this interesting from Rorate which sums up the evil, bitter old losers in the hierarchy who will have a lot of explaining to do to St. Peter:
“A curious cultural phenomenon is unfolding within the modern Catholic Church: the generation that was supposed to fully embrace the post-conciliar liturgical experiment is instead turning back to the ancient faith. Often referred to as "Zoomer Catholicism," a striking number of young people and newly ordained priests are bypassing the relaxed, modern aesthetics of their parents' era in favor of the Traditional Latin Mass. Like grandchildren uncovering a priceless heirloom hidden away in an attic, this rising generation is rediscovering a heritage they were never meant to see, upending the long-held assumption that traditional worship was merely a dying relic of the past.
“Recognizing this unexpected shift, the Vatican hierarchy has instituted unprecedented restrictions to stem the tide. Rules like Traditionis Custodes specifically target younger, newly ordained clergy by requiring explicit permission from Rome before a priest can offer the traditional rite. The underlying strategy relies on an institutional waiting game: restrict the sacraments, wait out the aging congregations, and prevent a new generation of priests from standardizing the old Mass. Yet, this strategy overlooks a vital reality of the modern era. The internet, digital publishing, and global communication have made traditional theology, Gregorian chant, and liturgical history permanently accessible, ensuring that the ancient rite can no longer be quietly erased or forgotten.
I hope that Bishop Johan Bonny obeys simply whatever determination that Pope Leo XIV may render in regard to the situation in question.
Catholicism:
"Therefore, when we love the Pope, there are no discussions regarding what he orders or demands, or up to what point obedience must go, and in what things he is to be obeyed; when we love the Pope, we do not say that he has not spoken clearly enough..."
"...whoever is holy cannot dissent from the Pope."
— Pope Saint Pius X. 2012 A.D.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I would be shocked if there is any public discipline. Firing a shot cross the bow does not seem to be the Pope's style.
I think behind the scenes the pope would warn him that he could be removed as bishop if he follows through with ordaining them. And if the bishop ignores that, then the pope will publicly act. This is to test the waters for female or you name the gender ordinations which would be invalid not just illicit as the male ordinations would be. What concerns me, though, is the the left’s disobedience leads to acceptance, think altar girls, Communion in the hand and other liturgical abuses.
The Summa Theologiae. Writing on the theological virtue of charity and the spiritual work of mercy known as "fraternal correction," Aquinas argues that subjects are morally bound to rebuke and disobey their prelates—including the Pope—if there is an imminent danger to the faith.
Unlike the ordination of bishops, the ordination of priests does not require Apostolic Mandate. So I doubt he would be excommunicated, though he could very well be disciplined in some other way.
Strange but in US Dioceses with orthodox bishops, vocations seem fairly plentiful. Maybe this bishop should change direction and try orthodoxy for a change
I do think he would have to have Vatican approval and papal permission like that of married Episcopal priests ordained as Catholic priests. I think he could be removed as a bishop and perhaps laicized. The other question would be the status of the married priests ordained. Maybe not given faculties?
Let's play a couple hands of "What Do We When...?":
What do we do when Father's wife starts playing the field because her guy is married to his job? Or, what do we do when when Father's son is charged with 'possession with intent to sell'? Or, what do we do when Father's daughter with a fast reputation among the local swains is seen limping from an abortion clinic? Or when etc., etc., etc......
Also, keep in mind that Father's children are insured by the diocese until the last one reaches 18. Dual vocations are ill advised.
Father McDonald said..."What concerns me, though, is the the left’s disobedience leads to acceptance, think altar girls, Communion in the hand and other liturgical abuses."
The Church has borrowed —"baptized" — from paganism. Therefore, legitimizing certain practices that have flowed from the left, right, center — whatever — should not concern us.
Holy Mother Church is our spiritual Mother who leads us down the orthodox path.
When the True Church legitimizes a pagan practice, a left-wing practice — whatever — said practice becomes a Catholic practice.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
We have married priests (I’m Orthodox). That’s the ancient tradition of the Church and, in my view, is far preferable in a parish context. My spiritual father has 8 children, so he’s quite helpful when I ask him questions about raising my 4 children.
You guys should try it out… it just might help you to have less weirdos among your clergy.
Marc, for 13 years in Augusta, my part time parochial vicar was a married priest, one of the first to be ordained under the “pastoral provision” of St. John Paul II. He had five children and his wife was a lector for Mass in the parish. We also had another married priest, a former Episcopal priest who became a Russian Orthodox priest who decided being in schism with the Church wasn’t a good thing, so he was received into the Catholic Church as a Catholic priest, but had bi-ritual faculties for the Greek Catholic Church in Augusta. He had a beautiful wife and several children too. I’m not opposed to married men becoming priests but I do respect the pope’s authority over this and our long tradition of celibacy. But, you make it sound like that there are no Eastern Orthodox priests who are horrible fathers to their own children and congregations, terrible husbands and that there is no adultery, divorce and skulduggery in these marriages. And shall we dare speak of sex abuse of one’s own children the ultimate taboo subject these day?
Marc I wouldn’t base your “weirdo” ” judgment because of the guy who posts here
I’m sure there are horrible married priests. We are human, after all.
To me, it is preferable to have married priests to guide the faithful in the parish context rather than a celibate man. It is a matter of balance and life experience.
I remember meeting with Catholic priests in their late 20’s who’d done nothing but spent a few years in Rome or some seminary among other celibate men. That is not a good way to learn wisdom.
Though our celibate, Latin clergy do lack the on-hands experience of the married man, they do by virtue of Holy Orders have the graces necessary to preach the Word, in season and out of season. The gift of celibacy has served the Church extremely well. It would be foolish to deny that married clergy have a better handle on things connubial, or that they are lacking sufficient graces. If a man has been in a canonical and healthy marriage with the same woman for twenty years, and his children are mostly grown and there are no impediments, then why not Holy Orders? If he's done all the course work and has been a functioning deacon, ordain him right away.
I mean, orthodox monks and Bishops are celibate, and spend all their time among other celibate man. Are they weirdos? The orthodox argument against priestly celibacy cuts against their own monks and bishops.
Our bishops are monks, so yes, they are celibate. Our monks (and bishops) don't live on their own amongst the laity like your celibate priests do. That is the distinction. Some of them probably are weirdos, though. But we at least recognize that living in celibacy is not typically done among a congregation of laypeople, which can be a problematic situation.
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