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  Myers to Aid Priest Conversions
His Office Helps Episcopal Clergy Become Catholic

By Jeff Diamant
The Star-Ledger [New Jersey]
October 19, 2005

An important Vatican body has appointed Newark Archbishop John J. Myers to oversee the process by which dozens of married Episcopal priests in the United States have become ordained in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith named Myers the "ecclesiastical delegate" to work with American bishops who have Anglican priests in their dioceses who want to become Catholic clergy, the Newark archdiocese announced yesterday.

Myers, the archbishop of Newark since 2001, said he expects to work two or three days a month at the job and has opened an office for it at the archdiocese center in Newark.

"I'm sure it will prove interesting," he said.

Such married priests are rarities in the Roman Catholic world, which mandates that its nonconverted clergy remain celibate and not marry.

Pope John Paul II authorized the conversion process for married Episcopal priests 25 years ago, after some expressed interest in becoming Catholic priests, said the Rev. William Stetson, who works at the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C., and will work with Myers.

Myers' position previously was held by Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned almost three years ago as Boston archbishop after an uproar related to his handling of clergy sex abuse. Law kept the ecclesiastical delegate job until Myers was appointed.

Few Episcopal priests become Catholic clergy. Those who do -- 78 since 1983 -- go through a 15- to 24-month process that begins when they approach their local Catholic bishop.

Myers described the rest of the process yesterday.

First, he said, a group of Catholic theologians sits with the Episcopal priest and questions him on theology, canon law, Scripture and history. The group recommends a reading list.

Then the diocese assigns the man -- the Catholic church ordains only men -- a theological mentor to help with the reading, and a spiritual mentor to help him understand Catholic sacraments and liturgies.

Then, after approval from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, each man takes written and oral ordination exams.

"If they have not yet been in contact with a Catholic bishop, then one of my jobs is to help them find someone in an area they want to live, in a diocese they think they'll be compatible," Myers said.

Around the country now, three such men have been approved and are waiting to be ordained, while the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is considering applications from another four.

 
 

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