ex priest to priest

[cmotherofpirl]

Former Priest Hopes to Become Priest Again

Eric Bergman wants to become a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He and his wife, Kristina have three children. Last week, Bergman resigned from his post as director of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Green Ridge. He disagrees with the church's positions on contraception and homosexuality. "The Episcopal Church left me, and so the Episcopal Church has abandoned the Catholic faith and I still feel called to the priesthood," said Bergman.

A few months ago, he approached the Diocese of Scranton. Now, the diocese has started a Vatican process called the pastoral provision. It gives special exception to married men who were Episcopal priests. Bergman says he must convert to Catholicism before anything can happen. "And once that's completed," said Bergman, "then we can begin the process of my possible ordination into the Catholic church."

The entire process could take up to two years. Bergman's wife, Kristina, says she trusts that her husband is making the right decision and is excited about the process. "He's made friends with people of all religions, all different denominations. So, I think people respect him and they'll like what he's doing," she tells Newswatch 16.

More than 60 of Bergman's parishioners from Good Shepherd have joined him in leaving the Episcopal church.

If Bergman is ordained, he will have the same responsibilities as other Roman Catholic priests. But he will choose to celebrate a special Anglican-style liturgy that's been approved by the Vatican.

[Balthazor]

Interesting.

[homeschoolmom]

Hmmm... interesting... I knew when I saw the ordiantion of the openly homosexual Episicipal Bishop (whose name excapes me) that many would leave the Episicipal Church for the Catholic Church...

[Sojourner]

That is very interesting.

[thessalonian]

In the 90's there was a large block of some 500 Anglican priests and bishops who came in to the Church when they started ordaining women. Most were married and most who asked were allowed to be priests in the Church. I heard one talk on Catholic Answers a while back. It is likely this one will also be allowed. We had a Lutheran pastor in town a couple of years back who was ordained a Catholic priest. He was married as well.

[picchick]

interesting

[theculturewarrior]

I've been to mass at two pastoral provision churches. (Anglican Use, in other words).

All I can say is WOW!

[Apotheoun]

Here's the link to the Pastoral Provision website:

[url="http://www.pastoralprovision.org/"]Pastoral Provision[/url]

[cathqat]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jan 5 2005, 12:51 PM'] I knew when I saw the ordiantion of the openly homosexual Episicipal Bishop (whose name excapes me) that many would leave the Episicipal Church for the Catholic Church... [/quote]
Gene Robinson.

I will give Robinson this: he has a sense of humor. At the conference when all of this was first making news, his supporters were all wearing "I support Gene" buttons. Robinson was wearing a button that said "I am Gene."

[littleflower+JMJ]

veyr interesting.......

do these ppl who are married and become priest fall under the total numbers with the rest of those who were ordained and became priests?

[Iacobus]

I know we have 2 or 3 ex-Lutherian priests in the Rockford area whom have families. I think it is a wonderful thing when it happens.

Flowerly, are you talking like are they considered lay people or ordained? I think they are considered ordained, they are ordained by the Bishop and undergo the same rituals. Plus they have all the powers of a priest. I assume it leaves a indeleable (sp?) mark on the soul as well. So I assume they are consdidered priests and not lay.

[littleflower+JMJ]

oh no i know once you are ordained you are a priest i was talking more on are they included in the statistics or numbers of those who are ordained in the Church for that year etc.....

[Scofizzle]

praise be to God.....Yet another one of God's children has found the true Light!!!

[hopeful1]

at one time, my parish had a priest that used to be a baptist minister with a strong southern accent. he would always refer to the congregation as "my bretheren", so it was kinda intresting. i don't know if he was ever married tho.

[Pope St Clement 1]

Our parish Priest for 8 years was a former Anglican Priest, married with kids and one of the most well-liked Priests (but orthodox) we've ever had. It was he who presided at my Dad's funeral.

St Therese of Lisieux played a part in his conversion.

[Apotheoun]

I pray that more high Church Anglicans become Catholic.

[cathqat]

FWIW, I'm trying to convince my Episcopalian mom to become Catholic. She may go Orthodox, but that's also a vast improvement.

[qfnol31]

I think my Priest said that the only way that works is if you were not Catholic before.

He would know, he's one of the two Priests I know who have done it.

Sorry to bump this after so long.

Edited November 17, 2005 by qfnol31

[son_of_angels]

I rather feel that involved in all this should be a public oath wherein all the former Anglicans renounce the validity of Anglican orders and communion, as being fraudulent and invalid.

[Theologian in Training]

We have one married priest in our diocese. Sadly, he was recently arrested for kicking his wife in the ribs.

Married priests are actually more common then you might realize.

God Bless

Edited November 17, 2005 by Theologian in Training