Viri Probati

Theological foundations for the return of married Catholic priests in Latin Rite

(without abolishing celibacy)

"This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church" (Eph. 5:32).

"Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through the service of others that they do so" (Catechism  1534).

"[M]aybe it is the right moment to give birth in the Church to a real catholic theology of priesthood, a theology able to include also the married priesthood, a lawful (legitima) (PO 16) tradition of the catholic of the Church and a state always considered as based upon a divine call.  Up to now the catholic theology of priesthood has been a theology for celibate priests, without a real place for married priests" (Basilio Petra, 2015).

The "ontologicalist error" of those who teach that celibacy-continence is essential to the priesthood borders on heresy.

Canonical pathways for the return of older, married men, to be ordained to the priesthood (if local bishop requests dispensations)

 Cardinal Oswald Gracias, J.C.D., of India (appointed cardinal by Benedict) on married priests: "It's open." "Following present canon law, there's a possibility" that Holy See can grant a "dispensation" to a married man to be ordained priest. Bishops need to petition Vatican. 

Sandro Magister (2020): "But how will the ordination of married men be authorized? De Almeida says that 'for now the solution is in the code of canon law,' which in canons 1042 and 1047 admits that in special cases the Holy See can exempt candidates for the priesthood from the 'impediment' of marriage, taking into account ‘the good of the faithful,’ the presence of a ‘just and reasonable cause’ and ‘the circumstances of the case’ ...."

 Can. 1047 §1: "Dispensation from all irregularities is reserved to the Apostolic See alone if the fact on which they are based has been brought to the judicial forum." 

Can. 1042: "The following are simply impeded from receiving orders:

1/ a man who has a wife, unless he is legitimately destined to the permanent diaconate"

Jesus called married men to the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

In 1139 A.D., the Second Lateran Council stopped admitting married men in the Latin (Roman) Rite priesthood.  However, the Eastern Catholic Churches continued a non-continent married priesthood. 

The Latin Rite began admitting married men to the priesthood in the 20th Century.   Pope Pius XII first began dispensing married men to be ordained Latin Rite Catholic priests without expectation of celibacy-continence to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass.   Celibacy remained in absolute legal force in the West from 1139 A.D. to 1952 A.D.   

Thus, mandated celibacy in the Latin Rite only existed for 813 years, but the married Catholic priesthood has existed for over 2,000 years of tradition since the Twelve Apostles.

We cannot be more traditional than Tradition.

Pastoral application for the restoration of priestly ordination of Viri Probati

(perhaps start with married deacons)

In 1952 (20th Century), Pope Pius XII granted permission for 5 married Protestant pastors who converted to the Catholic Faith to be ordained Catholic priests.  These married Catholic priests celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass thus beginning the return of married Catholic priests in the Latin Rite once again in our time.

The Second Vatican Council restored the diaconate for married men and commended the Eastern Catholic Churches for maintaining married clergy since the time of the Apostles.  Married priests (viri probati) were considered during Vatican II, but more time was needed for discernment.  In 1971, the vote at the Synod of Bishops for married priests was a close.

Pope St. Paul VI, like Pope Pius XII, gave permission on a limited basis for married Protestant pastors who converted to the Catholic Faith to be ordained married Catholic priests.  

Married men were ordained underground Catholic priests in Communist countries.

Pope St. John Paul II, following 20th Century Popes, continued to grant dispensations called the "Pastoral Provision" that ordained married men to the Latin Rite priesthood on a limited basis, while Benedict XVI created the "Ordinariate" which admitted married converts from the Anglican communities to be admitted to the Catholic priesthood. 

At present in the 21st Century, the Catholic Church continues the discussing of whether to ordain "Viri Probati" which are older, tested men (like married deacons with a fruitful diaconate) to the Catholic priesthood in the Latin Rite and how they would function.  They would not function like the current celibate Latin rite priests or Ordinariate priests salaried by the Church but more like the current Latin rite permanent deacons.  More traditional Catholics have suggested "Simplex Priests" which is how priests were trained before the establishment of the seminary system by the Council of Trent.  Various Catholic bishops have proposed to ordain married deacons as "Viri Probati" priests by granting dispensations if the local bishop asks for married priests.