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Religion See other Religion Articles Title: New Louisville archdiocese priests are married man, grandfather LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Two newly ordained Roman Catholic priests are bucking traditions in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Wally Dant Jr., 66, a widower with five children, was ordained Saturday along with Jeffrey Hopper, 48, a former Episcopal priest and Catholic convert who is married. Hopper is the first married man to be ordained in the archdiocese, and both are the archdiocese's first grandfathers to enter the priesthood. "It's been a long journey. Just seeing it come together, it's a joy," said Hopper, who was allowed to become a priest under a Vatican-approved provision that lets former Episcopal priests be ordained and remain married. "We mostly think of seminarians as young fellows out of college," said Dant. But "there's such a need for older people who can go out and already have the experience behind them to be able to start doing God's work right away." The unique ordinations illustrate a gradual trend toward older men entering the priesthood. The average age nationwide of men being ordained Catholic priests this year is 37.4, up from 34.8 in 1998. The average age was in the upper 20s in the late 1960s, according to Catholic researchers. The trend comes as the number of priests nationwide has dropped 27 percent since 1965, and the median age is about 60. "This is a celebration worthy of attention," said Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly at the start of the two-hour service. "We thank the families who have been such a support to Wally and Jeff, especially Jeff's wife, Betsy. Both have been married and received much grace from the sacrament of marriage." Hopper grew up a Baptist in Russell County. He later became an Episcopal priest and military chaplain but was increasingly drawn to Catholicism and converted after his retirement. Both he and his wife said priests and parishioners at St. James in Elizabethtown - where he has been working - have been supportive as they begin their pioneering role. Dant grew up in Nelson County, and became an executive at United Parcel Service. But he always stayed active in church, and later became a permanent deacon, a form of clergy open to married men. His wife, Barbara, died in 2003. A few months after her death, Dant broached the subject of becoming a priest with a vocations director and Archbishop Kelly. Soon he had moved from his Shelby County home into a dormitory room at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin, which specializes in training older men. Dant enjoyed his classes and now is looking forward to working as associate pastor at two parishes in Marion County. "I do believe that older men have an advantage" as priests, he said. "We've experienced everything in the world. I already know what a lot of people have experienced, and I think I can help them right away." --- Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com
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#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
I would like to see married priests as an option, as well as greater roles for women, including priesthood.
"That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want police protection from their slaves." Kim Stanley Robinson, "Green Mars" p318
IF they'll permit ex Episcopol priests to be married.. then IMO they should permit all priests to marry but it would be costly for the Church.. on women in the priesthood.. I dunno on that ..
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