Priesthood
Do the Eastern Orthodox admit women to Holy Orders?
The Eastern Orthodox, like the Catholic Church, do not ordain women. Catholics and Eastern Orthodox consititue three-fourths of all the Christians on earth. In the Old Testament, the true religion (the Jewish Religion) had an all-male priesthood as priesthood as well. To know more about this issue, I suggest you read the Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II, "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis," the document fo the Congregation for the Faith "Inter Insigniores," and such books as Manfred Hauke's "Women in the Priesthood?" published by Ignatius.
Reprinted from November 28, 1997
Do priests have to wear black suits and why?
Clerical dress for diocesan priests (religious order priests have their own regulations habits and other clothes) is regulated by local Church laws and customs. For many years it has been the rule and custom, by synodal legislation in the Diocese of Lincoln, for priests to wear black clerical clothing. This is dignified, signifies their "death" to the world and to worldly values, assists them in their witness and availability to their people, gives them and all who see them a sense of the seriousness of their vocation and their work, etc. In some more tropical places priests wear white clothing for the sake of hygiene and comfort. There was a time, before air conditioning was widespread, when priests in the Lincoln Diocese were permitted to wear white clothing in the summer. Naturally, when priests are taking recreation (hiking, golfing, etc.) they wear other kinds of appropriate garb.
Reprinted from November 7, 1997
A book I am reading talks about the "regular clergy." What is that
about?
In this context the word "regular" comes from the Latin word "regular" which means "rule." The term refers to those in the clergy who belong to religious orders and thus bind themselves to follow a particular "rule of life," which was usually drawn up by founder of the order. The "regular" clergy are sometimes contrasted with the "secular clergy," which means diocesan clergy who do not belong to religious community or order.
Reprinted from December 3, 1999
Do all Catholic priests take a vow of poverty?
No, they do not. Priests who are members of religious communities (and lay men and women who belong to such communities) make vows to God of poverty, chastity and obedience. However, the diocesan clergy (the usual parish priests and other priests who belong to a diocese rather than to a religious order) may own, inherit, invest and control their own possessions and are responsible for their own insurance, taxes, etc. Diocesan priests at their ordination make solemn promises of chaste celibacy for the love of God and of obedience to their Bishop. They are also bound, by their state in life, to live simply and frugally, but they have no vow of poverty. The vow of poverty made by religious (both clerics and lay) does not oblige them to live in destitution and penury, but means they give up, for the love of God, the right to private property, which is owned in common by the religious order or community to which they belong. Unless diocesan priests were to receive some family money inheritance, they normally have very little by way of personal possessions, except per haps their cars, which they usually need for their pastoral work. If diocesan priests, given their education and talents, had worldly careers, they would undoubtedly be financially rich. However, they cheerfully live on little income and often even give much of that away to the poor.
Reprinted from December 3, 1999
Would it ever be possible for a man who was involved in sex and drugs in his
high school years to be a candidate for the priesthood, if he had repented
and has been living an exemplary life since then?
Yes, this is certainly possible. However, besides phsycial and mental qualifications, candidates for the priesthood must also be morally fit men and enjoy a reasonably good reputation. Many fine priests and even great saints came to priestly ordination after a life of repentance for past sins. Talk this matter over with the priest who hears your confessions and also with your parish priest.
Reprinted from January 22, 1999
At what age can men be ordained as Catholic priests?
According to the current law of the Church, men may be ordained priests after they have completed their 25th year and transitional deacons after they have completed their 23rd year. Unmarried men can be ordained permanent deacons after completing their 25th year. Married men can be ordained permanent deacons after their 35th year and after the consent of their wives. Priests can be consecrated bishops after completing their 35th year. Once ordained, permanent deacons cannot marry. Married permanent deacons, if their wives die, must remain widowers.
Reprinted from October 16, 1998
Why do priests not wear birettas anymore?
The biretta is a square stiff hat with three or four ridges. It has a common ancestors with the "mortarboard" hat worn by academics and graduating students. It used to be "soft" and the ridges were the place where it was grasped when doffed. Fro many centuries it was prescribed that clerics would wear the biretta when entering or leaving the sanctuary for the liturgy and also it would be worn when the rubrics prescribed that the clerics be seated. The color of the biretta or its "pompom" (deriving from the academic tassel) denotes the rank of the cleric. Since 1964 its use in the Latin Rite became optional for all except cardinals and, in certain, instances, bishops. Priests still amy use the biretta if they so desire, but most no longer do so.
Reprinted from May 22, 1998