Married Roman Catholic Priests

On May 12, 700 people gathered to watch as the former Episcopalian Priest, Rev. Bill Lowe, was ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest Archdiocese in the nation. His ordination takes advantage of a little-known provision that allows married protestant clergy, to convert and enter the Catholic priesthood. Since 1976, the Episcopalian Church in the United States has made several controversial decisions over the ordination of priests and the use of contemporary language in the revised Book of Common Prayer. Since 2000, the church has also ordained women and homosexual bishops. All of this has lead to more and more priests leaving the Episcopalian Church in the United States, and seeking ordination in other, more conservative churches.

In response to the growing number of inquires, Pope John Paul II, issued a statement on June 22, 1980 allowing a "pastoral provision" which would provide "a common identity reflection certain elements of their own heritage." This would allow an entire Episcopalian congregation to enter the Catholic Church and continuing using Anglican-style Catholic Mass. Pope John Paul II also granted an exception to the rule of celibacy for married Episcopalian clergy becoming Catholic priests, but also said this "should not be understood as implying any change in the Church's conviction of the value of priestly celibacy, which will remain the rule for future candidates for the priesthood from this group."