Catholic Church Ordains First Married Priest in Nebraska

[AlphaCentauri]

After a five year drought where the Grand Island Catholic Diocese did not ordain a single new
priest, Friday they ordained three, including the state's first married priest.

It was with nervous anticipation, wedding day jitters almost that Father Sidney Bruggeman was ordained as a Catholic priest.

"When I say it's kind of like getting married, it's from personal experience," he said. "It's the same sense of feeling I had when I got married."

At a time when the Catholic Church struggles to replace aging pastors, Nebraska welcomes three, including the state's first married priest.

Most Rev. William Dendinger the bishop of Grand Island said, "There's only about 100 in the United States I think this is the first one in Nebraska, but it's a very, very small exception to the policy of mandatory celibacy for all those who are priests."

Bruggeman said he's used to the questions. "It's a difficult question for a lot of Catholics to approach. A married priest is like 'that can't be. There's some mistake here. Somebody's trying to pull a fast one.'

Bruggeman left his position as a protestant minister, became a practicing catholic, and received a special dispensation from the pope himself.


Link:
:web: http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=10487819&nav=menu605_2

[HeresyLives]

1. Oooh link please!

Seems the Vatican DOES allow it, after all!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. Yeah, it's actually not THAT uncommon

If you're already married, you can become a priest and stay married.

[pnwmom]

8. I don't think Catholics have that option, unless they are converts from another

denomination where they had been ordained.

[Dorian Gray]

10. Only if you were ordained in another church

Like Episcopalian or Lutheran, I believe.

(Or one of the Eastern Catholic Churches, which allow married priests.)

[lovuian]

3. its the first step

to a whole new way of thinking but they are very reluctant to do it

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Eh, I know one who tried to be one of the "hundred or so" but it didn't work out.

He's still married and was a priest in a different sect too but is now a layman in the Roman Catholic church.

[HeresyLives]

5. Thenk you, thenk you, thenk you!

[rosesaylavee]

6. I am glad you added the link

because I certainly would have been one to say, no way, this is a late night DU leg puller.

I have NEVER heard of such a thing. Never.

[Historic NY]

7. So that crosses out Father Oprah leaving to go Episcopalian...

bacause of his girlfriend.

[charlie]

9. Probably a mistake

If they want to continue with the insistence on celibacy, that is.

It would be different if they created a junior grade for the priests. But since these guys are considered to be just as effective, just as Godly, and fully vested with priestly duties, the only difference being they haven't been made to take the vow, it wouldn't be crazy to think chastity is superfluous, a requirement for its own sake. Plus, the only avenue for this dispensation coming from outside the Church can't be something that sits well with everybody.

Yeah, they've been doing it for decades without trouble. But each addition highlights the dissonance anew.