Vow Of Poverty

[EAnn246]

Do Diocesan priests make a vow of poverty? I was under the impression that they did not take the same vow of poverty that a member of a religious order took. My boss (a non Catholic), however, has been arguing with me for weeks about it. I'd like to be able to show her definitively one way or another.

Thanks!

Peace.

[StColette]

From the Diocese of Lincoln


Do all Catholic priests take a vow of poverty?

No, they do not. Priests who are members of religious communities (and lay men and women who belong to such communities) make vows to God of poverty, chastity and obedience. However, the diocesan clergy (the usual parish priests and other priests who belong to a diocese rather than to a religious order) may own, inherit, invest and control their own possessions and are responsible for their own insurance, taxes, etc. Diocesan priests at their ordination make solemn promises of chaste celibacy for the love of God and of obedience to their Bishop. They are also bound, by their state in life, to live simply and frugally, but they have no vow of poverty. The vow of poverty made by religious (both clerics and lay) does not oblige them to live in destitution and penury, but means they give up, for the love of God, the right to private property, which is owned in common by the religious order or community to which they belong. Unless diocesan priests were to receive some family money inheritance, they normally have very little by way of personal possessions, except per haps their cars, which they usually need for their pastoral work. If diocesan priests, given their education and talents, had worldly careers, they would undoubtedly be financially rich. However, they cheerfully live on little income and often even give much of that away to the poor.

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[CatherineM]

I've known a couple of priests who had quite a lot of money. One was from a wealthy family and inherited a big amount. Another had been a successful interior decorator before entering seminary. They both lived modestly, and left their estates to church charities. The former decorator had very nice vestments though. My favorite priest's passion was a candy apple red 1969 charger convertible with white leather seats. It stayed in the garage and the church's car stayed in the driveway. He only drove it when he could leave the top down.