Catholic Answers Live #12648 Can a Bishop Ordain Married Men? - Tom Nash
Mar 27, 2026
Tom Nash, Catholic theologian and apologist who explains doctrine and liturgy. He tackles whether a bishop can ordain married men without papal approval. He discusses if Muslims honor the one God, when priests may marry couples outside church buildings, recent Mass wording changes, and proper music and practice during Communion.
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Bishop Cannot Unilaterally Ordain Married Men
- A bishop cannot validly ordain married men to the priesthood without papal approval when it conflicts with Church governance and discipline.
- Tom Nash cites the primacy of the Pope, binding and loosing, and past excommunications (Archbishop Lefebvre) as reasons this would be illicit and problematic.
Validity Versus Faculties In Illicit Ordinations
- Even if a bishop attempted ordinations without Rome, ordained men could celebrate Mass but lack faculties for absolution and other juridical permissions.
- Nash explains ex opere operato validity differs from licit faculties (e.g., confession requires proper faculty).
How Catholics Understand Muslim Worship
- Muslims worship the one God of Abraham but with an imperfect grasp of the Trinity and the Incarnation, according to the Catechism.
- Nash references CCC 841 and 846–848 and appeals to invincible ignorance while urging continued evangelization.
