cmotherofpirl Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balthazor Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 That is very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessalonian Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picchick Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theculturewarrior Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 I've been to mass at two pastoral provision churches. (Anglican Use, in other words). All I can say is WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Here's the link to the Pastoral Provision website: [url="http://www.pastoralprovision.org/"]Pastoral Provision[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathqat Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 [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." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleflower+JMJ Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacobus Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleflower+JMJ Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 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..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scofizzle Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 praise be to God.....Yet another one of God's children has found the true Light!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeful1 Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pope St Clement 1 Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now