The following comes from a November 24 Catholic News Agency article by Elise Harris:
Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Steven Lopes, a Catholic priest from California, as the new bishop who will head the Anglican Ordinariate in the United States and Canada.
He will be taking over for Msgr. Jeffrey N. Steenson, a former Episcopal bishop appointed by Benedict XVI in 2012 to shepherd the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is a special diocese-like structure that allows entire Anglican communities to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church while retaining certain elements of the liturgy and other customs.
A married Anglican priest can be ordained a Catholic priest but not a bishop. Instead, as in the case of Msgr. Steenson, they become an “ordinary,” who carries all the authority of a bishop except that of being able to ordain priests.
Msgr. Lopes’ appointment, then, marks the first time a Roman Catholic bishop has been named for any of the worlds’ three Personal Ordinariates: Our Lady of Walsingham in the United Kingdom; the Chair of Saint Peter in the United States and Canada; and Our Lady of the Southern Cross in Australia.
Born and raised in Fremont, California, Msgr. Lopes attended Catholic schools throughout his childhood, as well as the St. Ignatius Institute at the University of San Francisco.
He entered seminary in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He studied theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif. and later in Rome, at the Pontifical North American College.
Since Sept. 1, 2005, the bishop-elect has served as an official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and has also taught theology at the Gregorian University. He was named a monsignor in 2010.
Congratulations to him and to the Ordinariate! I see the hand of Cardinals Mueller and Levada in this appointment, but most of all the hand of God.
My experience with Married Anglican Priests who ‘Poped Up’ and entered Full Communion with the Catholic Church – has been Great.
I think the service of these Men is an example of how our Priesthood not only can Benefit from Married Priests – but also how this could have helped counter the Radical Homosex Infiltration of the Priesthood – that has cost so much Treasure and more importantly – Harmed so many of the Innocent.
So – Married Priests – So Far So Good; lets keep the Positive Aspects and apply them to our own Priesthood, which may well increase Vocations considerably.
My experience with a married Anglican priest who retired from his position, attended a Catholic seminary, and became a Catholic priest is excellent as well. I feel sorry for the position this puts his wife in, but as the only wife of a priest I have ever known, she has carried herself beautifully in what must be an extremely challenging role within the Church. Both the priest and his wife of many decades are a blessing to those whom they serve in their own individual ways. Of course, they are exceptional people, wonderful, loving and delightful. Not all priests are as wonderful as he is, and of course, were they married, what role would the wives be trained or asked to play?
Maryanne Leonard and Michael Mc Dermott,
Tell us what you really FEEL about strategically promoting the idea of married priests? Why are you both playing three card monte on CCD? Michael McDermott, One minute touting Bill Donahue, then the next moment exposing his greedy sounding huge salary. Can’t have it both ways. Maryanne Leonard, One minute pre-canonizing a dissenter, then the next moment undermining Father Perozich, and then the next moment you are asking for more orthodoxy. Red flags! IOW, Consistency should be your name, but so far…. three card monte, has been the slippery posting game.
Oh, Catherine the Great Judge, could you please help me to avoid having a nuanced set of my own thoughts on different subjects? Am I to condemn priests who do tremendous good because they call for a change with which I disagree? Am I to praise all priests at all times for all things they say and do? Will you please let me know in advance whom to praise and whom to call in error and when and why? And will you please let me know how I am steathily calling for married priests if I praise the only one I know, and his wife? I am confused here, since I thought I was against it in principal, so please set me straight.
….just seems your advocating here coincides with your antagonism against rightly ordered male leadership within the Catholic Church, Maryanne. That is you seem rather eager to see if wives will get an ‘official role’. So whereas you see what you are posting as good and supportive, it is what you are posting and what underpins it that, at least to me, is curious.
You seem to be opting for a pattern of ‘change’. Not that that in itself is a bad thing. But it is the context in which that change is pursued and for what end purpose that is in question. Your previous assertions that women are attempting to seek equal ‘dignity’ within the Church by exerting a more active role – taking over those duties previously executed by men -…
…would imply that women lacked dignity in a traditional role.
That falsehood often sees women attempting to ‘do it all’ to the detriment of doing what is most important. It is that same falsehood that often turns men away from leadership roles as the masculine is considered unnecessary, out of line, and/or not polished enough in accordance with female sensibilities.
You may consider my sentiments to be misogynist, Maryanne, but I’m really trying to get a grasp on where you’re coming from.
I think it is wonderful, that Maryann Leonard and Michael McDermott are trying to point out the great good, done by Anglican clergy, who are very different, than our clergy! I think the Anglican tradition is beautiful, and very distinctly “English!” Their Book of Common Prayer, (the original one, not the modern one!) is just elegant, with Shakespear-era beauty and holiness evoked, in the language usage, and writing style! A religious and liturgical tradition that is very beautiful!
I will just make one little comment, regarding the post of Maryann Leonard. I know she and Michael McDermott mean well. It is nice that Maryann describes the Anglican priest and his wife, in glowing ways, as “…exceptional people, wonderful, loving, and delightful…” That is nice, for good social reasons! But I am more interested in something extra– HOLINESS! Our Roman Catholic Latin Rite tradition is very holy, with celibate priests! The posts of Leigh and MAC are excellent with explanations on this. Ordination is a holy Sacrament, and TOO HOLY– for the mundane role of the laymen, married with kids!
HOLINESS is in no incompatible with being “wonderful, loving and delightful”–although that seems to be the belief, and practice, of some posters here. Such a belief is BABYISH, to coin a phrase.
I wish to say one more thing, regarding the posts of Maryann Leonard, and Michael McDermott. I think they mean well! However– I deeply wish that the Latin Rite Catholic Church would dump the 1960’s and much of its Vatican II “baloney,” and close the windows and doors to the secular world– and FOLLOW CHRIST, WHO IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, BUT OF HEAVEN!! And that is all! And follow Him faithfully, with total trust, and show others how to do so, too! I think we are born for it, though it may seem hard! And Christ will help us!
Linda Maria, you write “. . . CHRIST, WHO IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, BUT OF HEAVEN . . .”
A triple WOW!!! Such a belief comes perilously close to 3rd century Christological heresies condemned by Ecumenical Councils. To say nothing of being in opposition to the clear words of the 4th Eucharistic prayer—and other liturgical statements—which affirm that Christ was “a man LIKE US in ALL THINGS but sin. Remember the theological axiom (predating Vatican II by centuries) that “lex orandi [est] lex credendi”. [I’ll supply a translation if you need it.]
Tread more carefully, Linda Maria. For a veteran heresy-hunter, you are on thin ice here. Might it be better to get a deeper knowledge of what the Church’s teaching re the…
Incarnation really means, as Catholics prepare to begin celebrating Advent.
Well, I will say one thing more! Holy Orders is VERY HOLY– and all of the clergy must see it as such! Likewise- laymen, when they marry– Holy Matrimony is a HOLY SACRAMENT, and it is of God, not man! Many people forget this! We all are PILGRIMS on this earth, seeking Christ, hopefully ending up at the doorway to Heaven, and helping others to do the same! We can do this– but only by strictly having enough FAITH in Christ, to follow Him, exactly as He says!
CCC: ” 1579 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.”
Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to “the affairs of the Lord,” they give themselves entirely to God and to men.
Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God. “
McDermott, have you ever read a Catholic Bible?
There is a very good reason for Priests not to be married. So their interests will not be divided.
Try reading – 1 Cor 7:32 -32.,
and Jesus Mt 19:12.
Sorry, should have been 1 Cor 7:32-34.
…..and the priesthood is something that demands full time commitment and self sacrifice. How many marriages/families are broken up because the husband is too focused on his career, not putting his family first.
I can well imagine the can-o-worms of a group of ‘priest wives’ decrying the injustice of having to be open to life while their husband is off taking care of countless parishioners and on a pittance of a salary. Work/life balance is hard enough for those who do not have starkly competing vocations.
Women and children deserve a full time Dad who looks to their well being as his primary duty.
I know Fr. “Bishop-Elect” Lopes well — this is a good appointment. He is brilliant and orthodox.
We all know that Priests in the Latin Rite could be married if Pope Francis said they could. Priests in other Catholic Rites can be married and we allow Anglican Priest who convert to remain married, of course. This is not truly a dogma thing. I believe that the hierarchy hasn’t figured out how to manage the financials and family life issues. Married Priests need to be able to support a family. Catholics don’t usually give enough in the collection to do this. A Protestant Pastor in a church with 200-400 families typically makes $60-80 K per year in addition to housing allowance. They don’t live in dormitories like our Priests do. Then, you have the family life issues. Do you really reassign a Priest to another parish when the…
Read Sacred Scripture, and the Doctrine of the Faith – CCC.
Do you rally reassign a Priest to another parish when the cheer-leader daughter is a senior in high school, or the young son is within two merit badges of his Eagle award? Being able to manage a family and a parish is not impossible. Pastors in all the Protestant denominations do it as a regular part of life, and they have as many meetings, visit hospitals and shut-ins and have organization meetings in the evening just like Priests. Its all about willingness to change and money, not theology.
Many people forget, that it is the Catholic Sacraments, filled with Sanctifying Grace, straight from Heaven, that helps so much, to sanctify followers of Christ, and prepare them for Heaven! In every era, there are always devout Catholics, leading a holy life– who DO become Saints! Protestants have rejected the Catholic Sacraments, this great gift to us, of SUPERNATURAL GRACE! And Anglicans are mixed in their beliefs on this– overall, they do not believe, and practice their Faith, as we do!
God bless you Bishop Lopes. We remember your service as an alter boy at St. Edward in Newark Ca. We are so proud of you as is your dear mom. May Christ Jesus bless you as you minister in His precious and powerful name.
As usual Bob One, you do not read the Bible or the CCC.
You make up the Faith as you go along, which is scandalous, in error, and heretical.
There are 5 paragraphs in the CCC on Priestly celibacy. It is also in the Bible.
Further in any Catholic Rite – including Eastern –
” In the East as in the West a man who has already received the sacrament of Holy Orders can no longer marry. ” – CCC 1580.
LINDA MARIA wrote: “Ordination is a holy Sacrament, and TOO HOLY– for the mundane role of the laymen, married with kids!”
Sorry, L.M., but laymen get ordained all the time – that’s how they move from being laymen to clergy.
As for having children, and a wife, this is not evil, but perfectly fine with The Almighty. If Holy Mother Church allows some priests to be married with children, what’s your beef? This is merely a decision of the Church, a decision that can be changed once again (meaning: in the early days priests were married).