Hi Jan, I can answer that question from the Code of Canon Law from 1917, which was in effect until 1983: "Illegitimate birth: bastards, even when their status is not public, are irregular and can't be ordained." This was one of many "irregularities" that precluded one from the priesthood. Others were missing a thumb or index finger (which must hold the Host), incomprehensible mumblers or stutterers, those who cannot tolerate any alcohol, those whose appearance would move the crowd to horror or derision, such as the severely deformed or hunchbacked; defect in the mind: those who are or have been epileptic, those who are or have been insane ... I cannot put my hands on anything pre-1917 at the moment, but I cannot imagine things being "easier" during the 1800's. Happy Hunting! Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jan Fortado" <janfortado@comcast.net> To: <IRL-CORK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 9:02 PM Subject: In the mid 1800's could an illegitimate male become a priest? > I am searching for the marriage of the parents of a Mahony who became a > priest. There is a slight possibility they never married. I am wondering if > anyone knows what the laws of the church were in the mid 1800's. Could an > illegitimate child be ordained? If not, then I should still keep looking > for the marriage of his parents. > > Thanks for any help. > Jan > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <IRL-CORK-D-request@rootsweb.com> > To: <IRL-CORK-D@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 11:00 AM > Subject: IRL-CORK-D Digest V06 #137 > > ______________________________

I have run across many dispensations allowing illegitimate sons to become priests. For hundreds of years, it seemed to be the proferred profession for them. I am sure it continued into the 1800's as did priests' marriages. Janet On 7/28/06, Joe Nihen <morse73@ptd.net> wrote: > Hi Jan, > > I can answer that question from the Code of Canon Law from 1917, which was > in effect until 1983: "Illegitimate birth: bastards, even when their status > is not public, are irregular and can't be ordained." > > This was one of many "irregularities" that precluded one from the > priesthood. Others were missing a thumb or index finger (which must hold > the Host), incomprehensible mumblers or stutterers, those who cannot > tolerate any alcohol, those whose appearance would move the crowd to horror > or derision, such as the severely deformed or hunchbacked; defect in the > mind: those who are or have been epileptic, those who are or have been > insane ... > > I cannot put my hands on anything pre-1917 at the moment, but I cannot > imagine things being "easier" during the 1800's. > > Happy Hunting! > > Joe > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jan Fortado" <janfortado@comcast.net> > To: <IRL-CORK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 9:02 PM > Subject: In the mid 1800's could an illegitimate male become a priest? > > > > I am searching for the marriage of the parents of a Mahony who became a > > priest. There is a slight possibility they never married. I am wondering > if > > anyone knows what the laws of the church were in the mid 1800's. Could an > > illegitimate child be ordained? If not, then I should still keep looking > > for the marriage of his parents. > > > > Thanks for any help. > > Jan > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <IRL-CORK-D-request@rootsweb.com> > > To: <IRL-CORK-D@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 11:00 AM > > Subject: IRL-CORK-D Digest V06 #137 > > > > ______________________________ > > > ==== IRL-CORK Mailing List ==== > Searchable archives for IRL-CORK can be found at > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/?list=irl-cork > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > >

Fascinating! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Nihen" <morse73@ptd.net> To: <IRL-CORK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 5:11 PM Subject: Re: In the mid 1800's could an illegitimate male become a priest? > Hi Jan, > > I can answer that question from the Code of Canon Law from 1917, which was > in effect until 1983: "Illegitimate birth: bastards, even when their > status > is not public, are irregular and can't be ordained." > > This was one of many "irregularities" that precluded one from the > priesthood. Others were missing a thumb or index finger (which must hold > the Host), incomprehensible mumblers or stutterers, those who cannot > tolerate any alcohol, those whose appearance would move the crowd to > horror > or derision, such as the severely deformed or hunchbacked; defect in the > mind: those who are or have been epileptic, those who are or have been > insane ... > > I cannot put my hands on anything pre-1917 at the moment, but I cannot > imagine things being "easier" during the 1800's. > > Happy Hunting! > > Joe > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jan Fortado" <janfortado@comcast.net> > To: <IRL-CORK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 9:02 PM > Subject: In the mid 1800's could an illegitimate male become a priest? > > >> I am searching for the marriage of the parents of a Mahony who became a >> priest. There is a slight possibility they never married. I am wondering > if >> anyone knows what the laws of the church were in the mid 1800's. Could an >> illegitimate child be ordained? If not, then I should still keep looking >> for the marriage of his parents. >> >> Thanks for any help. >> Jan >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <IRL-CORK-D-request@rootsweb.com> >> To: <IRL-CORK-D@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 11:00 AM >> Subject: IRL-CORK-D Digest V06 #137 >> >> ______________________________ > > > ==== IRL-CORK Mailing List ==== > Searchable archives for IRL-CORK can be found at > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/?list=irl-cork > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx >