Children of Priests

Considering the fact that in the Eastern Catholic Church, priests can also be married and fathers of children. They are just as CATHOLIC as Roman Rite Catholics are. The Roman Rite accepts men who were Episcopalian priests (married, children) as Roman Rite priests (and they are still married with children).

But when it comes to dealing with Roman Rite priests----the hierarchy maintains that priests must remain celibate (at least for appearance sake). My heart goes out to you, "ChildrenofPriests" for not being able to have a normal child/father relationship while you were growing up---even now. And I am sure that this is equally painful for your Mom as well as your Dad. Our Western Church either is afraid or is unable to realize that there is a major problem in how we envision vocations today.

Upon visiting a Catholic website from another country, I read that the numbers of priests there are even lower than in the United States----but their hierarchy has written letters to the Vatican asking, pleading that married men, etc. be permitted to be ordained. One bishop stated that in his diocese, the numbers of candidates for the priesthood are so low that he is willing (provided the candidate was properly prepared) to ordain any candidate who kneels before him---single, married, male, female, straight or gay!

Marie!
"Why can the institution not find a role for those who are called by God both to be religious leaders and to father children?"
Yours is not a simple question, and I feel rather presumptious in attempting an answer. However, I have not at this stage, developed sufficient resistance to offering an opinion! However ridiculous!
For me, your answer is testosterone! When a man "SIRES" a child! Now that's a "WORD", consider the apellation in a masculine world. "I beg your indulgence, "S I R E!" The respect! The "Majesty", just the sound of it fills, even me, with feelings of power and domination and conquering! WOW! "Honey!! Where'd you put my sword?"
Should priests be allowed to "S I R E!" children, they would, in normal cases, tend to form natural alliances with their progeny and their "dams". And therein lies the root of all Catholic secrecy and shame! It's called sex. (please note the use of lower case letters to spell !sshhhhhsex!) Tis not the suspected alliances with his progeny that the church has feared, and still fears! 'Tis the attraction and influence of the DAM!
"Black Sheep, Black Sheep, have you any wool?" "Yes SIRE, yes SIRE, three bags full! One for the MASTER, one for the dame, and one for the little boy who lives in the lane!" Black Sheep has no wool left for himself, and it's a very cold world! His allegiences are then divided! Which one will he honor?
That is why priests are required to take a vow of celibacy. Because uncelibate? noncelibate? I know, decelibated men, will form an alliance with, "SOME WOMAN", and prob'ly begin to "S I R E!" Which just exacerbates the whole sshhhsex thingy! And that makes them moody and unreliable, and they won't do anything you want them to! He just does what "SHE" wants wants him to do!
So they get decelibated! Sometimes some of them get through, and end up what is known as "Proud Cut" and the decelibation dosen't quite "take." When that happens, we can't let the others know, or they might want it too!Thus, the secrecy! (The sshhhsex thingy, you know!)
I know that's a very simplistic view of the situation. But it's what I see. A very dear friend and co-worker told me once, "James Edward! Should it be true that there is beauty in simplicity, You are one of Gods most gorgeous creatures!"
It amazed me that this man should finally see, how really beautiful I am!

In Gods eyes, we are all beautiful!
James Edward
P.S. Instead of calling your priest "father", try calling him "S I R E!" a couple of times and see if his eyes don't light up and his cheeks get rosier and his neck look a little thicker! "Honey! You find that sword yet!"

Dear Wanting!
The answer to your posed question lies herein. I think!
I too at long last went looking for answers. I had to! My questions included; Why do I do the things I do? Why am I me? Why do I feel things nobody else feels? Why does everybody know who I am, and keeps telling who I am, when I don't even know? Why does everyone else know what I am and keeps telling me, when I don't know what I am! Is there really someone here or am I what all those peole are saying? Why did they do that to me? Why didn't someone get in trouble besides me? Did my mother know? Was there a "deal" made? WHAT HAPPENED? Who gives a big red and green rats ass anyway?
My answer lies in SILENCE! The silence manufactured by the abject FEAR of questioning CHURCH/God!
The silence of those who "protected" me until the state no longer could! My own silence of ignorance and confusion! The only answer I've come across to date is twofold.
FACE and MONEY!
You will not find your answers in the "Church"! It's their face and their and their money! I don't count! And neither do you!

God loves you, my friend! Honest! He did not do any of this! It was just done in His name!
I love you too, and I feel your weight!
I pray you Gods peace!
James Edward

P.S. I weep, that I can do no more for either of us!

I learned he was my father in high school, but he has always been a part of my life. The "secrecy" remains however.

Children Of Priests
Living the Truth
www.ChildrenOfPriests.org

This is fascinating. I am curious as to whether you only now know that you were sired by a priest or whether you have had an ongoing secret (unknown to you) father-sort-of-son-like relationship with him?

In the commentary of the NCR Editorial entitled "The Bishops' Futile Election Strategy", on the online "front page" of the most recent backissue, a scenario is described in which a young woman conceived a child through one encounter with a seminarian ten years younger than she, which she likely then aborted in order to spare the seminarian his future as a priest, herself her job, and her already born son his emotional security. I guess one might conclude that you are lucky to be alive.

It's not only a question of why there should be this culture of secrecy and shame, but why the institution should not encourage these fathers to be fathers to their children when these situations arise. Why can the institution not find a role for those who are called by God both to be religious leaders and to father children?