Headline News

From time to time I comment on just how misleading some headlines are in dealing with the Catholic Church. Here is the latest example of journalistic malpractice.

Loophole allows married clergy to become Catholic priests

The story is about ex-Episcopal priest Bill Lowe who was recently ordained as the writer says "by way of a little-known pastoral provision." Now I would truly like to know how the Holy See in 1980 creating the Pastoral Provision under the jurisdiction of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is a loophole. Last I checked loopholes are not created on purpose. Could he mean that somebody who wanted to be a married Catholic priest could first spend a long career as an Episcopal priest, have a family, and then at an appropriate time join the Catholic Church and then apply via the Pastoral Provision to become a married Catholic priest?

Mahony said people should view the ordination as an exception and not an indication the church may change its requirements and bring in more married priests.

Many of the parishioners weren’t listening. Worried about the shortage of priests, they viewed the ordination as a symbol.

“I think it’s opening a door for married priests in the future,” said Michelle Paschen of Camarillo. “And yes, I think priests should be married.”

John Blankenship, 68, of Camarillo went further.

“I think it’s great that we’re moving forward,” he said. “Hopefully that will eventually lead to women being priests.”

Ah there is a stunning bit of logic. A dispensation from a discipline will lead to the change of a dogmatic teaching. You also have wonder if the married priest advocates have ever read or listened to what some of the seventy some married priests in the United States say on this subject.