#960105.01
> Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996
> From: Martin Ford
> To: Father Mateo
> Subject: Priesthood
>
> Dear Fr.Mateo:
>
> If a candidate for the priesthood lives as an active homosexual
> lifestye and accepts homosexuality as acceptable when ordained,
> is he a bonafied priest after ordination? Are the sacrements he
> officiates valid? Other than Baptism, which I assume even a pagan
> can officiate. Here I am more concerned with the person who is
> the recepient of the sacraments. Is Confession valid with such a
> priest? How about the other sacraments? If a marrage can be
> deemed annuled, how about Holy Orders?
>
> --
> Martin Ford
> ford@fordcom.com
> martin@fordcom.com
Dear Martin,
The validity of sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the
minister. This is the doctrine solemnly defined by the Council of
Trent (session VII, Canons on the Sacraments in General, can.12):
"If anyone shall say that a minister who is in mortal sin,
although he observes all the essentials which pertain to
the performance or conferring of the sacrament, neither
performs nor confers the sacrament: let him be anathema."
The opposite error has appeared very often in the history of
doctrine. It was condemned by the following Popes: Leo the Great
(440-461), Anastasius II (496-498), Pelagius I (556-561), Gregory
II (715-731), Nicholas I (858-867), Innocent III (1198-1216),
John XXII (1316-1334), and Martin V (1417-1431). It was also
condemned by the Council of Constance (1414-1418)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
1128 This is the meaning of the Church's affirmation that
the sacraments act *ex opere operato* (literally: "by the
very fact of the action's being performed"), i.e., by
virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for
all. It follows that "the sacrament is not wrought by the
righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient,
but by the power of God." From the moment that a
sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention
of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in
and through it, independently of the personal holiness of
the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments
also depend on the disposition of the one who receives
them.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
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