Just call him Father, Father?

This article is about a permanent deacon in Jacksonville, AL who was ordained a priest  after the death of his wife. Father Wally Dant and Father James Reinhart of the Archdiocese of Louisville followed a similar path to the priesthood after their wives passed away. Father Dant is the administrator of Saint Thomas and Saint Monica Parishes in Bardstown, KYand Father Reinhart is the associate pastor at Saint Augustine Parish in Lebanon, KY. The article begins:

Catholic priests have been forbidden from marrying for centuries, but in recent years there have been some men who were married and also priests — just not at the same time.

One such priest presides over St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Jacksonville. The Rev. James Macey was ordained as a priest three years ago, after the death of his wife of 37 years. Before her death, Macey and his wife had gone through training for him to become a deacon in the church.

“There is nothing in the Scriptures that says that a priest cannot be married,” Macey said. In fact, the first priest, Peter, as shown in the Bible, was married.

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