From Celibate Catholic Priest to Married Protestant Minister - by Stephen Joseph Fichter (Paperback)

About the Book

This book is the scholarly study of former Catholic priests who had to make a major life decision as they struggled with their commitment to celibacy and their desire to marry. In order to unite those two incompatible identities, they had to shed their Catholic affiliation. Th...

Book Synopsis

This book is the scholarly study of former Catholic priests who had to make a major life decision as they struggled with their commitment to celibacy and their desire to marry. In order to unite those two incompatible identities, they had to shed their Catholic affiliation. This is the first study of its kind.

Review Quotes

Carrying on the legacy of his granduncle, the priest-sociologist Joseph Fichter, S.J., Stephen Fichter, also a priest-sociologist, has produced a rich portrait of priests who have left the Catholic priesthood to become married Protestant clergy. Using in-depth interviews with former priests and their spouses/partners, as well as survey data, Fichter takes the reader along the path that these transitioning priests follow--a kind of rite of passage--as they move from a celibate Catholic priesthood to being shepherds 'in greener pastures' where, as Protestant clergy, they can embrace both marriage and ministry. This move, however, comes at a price as they must also forego their Catholic identity--a difficult but necessary tradeoff. This is an important study that will be of interest to a wide audience--sociologists, students of occupational change, and especially to Catholic and Protestant clergy and denominational officials. I highly commend it.

Father Stephen Fichter's fascinating work explores the complicated factors that influence a man's decision to make the transition from Catholic priesthood to Protestant ministry. These 'greener pastures shepherds' can shed light on many important topics, including celibacy, commitment, ministry, and sexuality. This groundbreaking study, which I highly recommend, is a refreshing read based not on opinions, but on facts, and the lived experiences of those who have made the transition.

I found Fichter's From Celibate Catholic Priest to Married Protestant Minister a timely contribution to the on-going studies and debates about the nature and future of the Catholic, celibate priesthood. His research and his stories of life-changing decisions deserve the attention of his brother priests and the church's bishops.

Stephen Fichter, like his granduncle before him, Joseph Fichter, S.J., explores an emerging pattern among Catholic priests that is both sociologically fascinating and very policy relevant. While his predecessor studied married Catholic clergy who transitioned from the Episcopal Church, this book focuses upon Catholic priests who transition to become non-celibate Protestant ministers. The book is a 'must read' not only for anyone interested in the sociology of organized religion, but also for its insights into the process of role transitions.

About the Author

Stephen Joseph Fichter is the pastor at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Haworth, New Jersey, and research associate at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University.