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Q&A

May an Illegitimate Child Be Ordained?

Fr. Charles Grondin

Question:

Can an illegitimate child become a priest?

Answer:

The 1917 Code of Canon Law (can. 984 n.1) did indeed state that men who were illegitimate children were “irregular” (i.e., would need a dispensation from Rome) for ordination. However, this code is no longer in force. The 1983 Code of Canon Law (can. 1041) does not list illegitimacy among the things that make a man “irregular” for ordination.

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