Catholic Church Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ====Holy Orders==== {{Main|Holy orders in the Catholic Church}} [[File:Priesterweihe in Schwyz 2.jpg|thumb|right|Priests lay their hands on the ordinands during the rite of ordination.]] The sacrament of Holy Orders consecrates and deputes some Christians to serve the whole body as members of three degrees or orders: episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests) and diaconate (deacons).<ref name="cann10081009">{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3N.HTM |title=Canon 1008β1009 |website=1983 Code of Canon Law |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302172900/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3N.HTM |archive-date=2 March 2016}} (As modified by the 2009 [https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_letters/documents/hf_ben-xvi_apl_20091026_codex-iuris-canonici_en.html motu proprio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616013341/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_letters/documents/hf_ben-xvi_apl_20091026_codex-iuris-canonici_en.html |date=16 June 2011 }} ''[[Omnium in mentem]]'')</ref><ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1536}}</ref> The church has defined rules on who may be ordained into the [[Clergy#Catholicism|clergy]]. In the Latin Church, the priesthood is generally restricted to celibate men, and the episcopate is always restricted to celibate men.<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/WCRB.htm Karl Keating, "What Catholics Really Believe: Setting the Record Straight: Chapter 46: Priestly Celibacy"]. ''ewtn.com''. Retrieved on 27 August 2015.</ref> Men who are already married may be ordained in certain Eastern Catholic churches in most countries,<ref>{{cite news |last=Niebuhr |first=Gustav |title=Bishop's Quiet Action Allows Priest Both Flock And Family |work=The New York Times |date=16 February 1997 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/16/us/bishop-s-quiet-action-allows-priest-both-flock-and-family.html |access-date=4 April 2008}}</ref> and the personal ordinariates and may become deacons even in the Latin Church<ref name="CCL1031">[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3Q.HTM Canon 1031] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221173442/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3Q.HTM |date=21 February 2008 }} Catholic Church Canon Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.</ref><ref name="CCL1037">[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3R.HTM Canon 1037] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218110036/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3R.HTM |date=18 February 2008 }}, Catholic Church Canon Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.</ref> (see [[Clerical marriage]]). But after becoming a Catholic priest, a man may not marry (see [[Clerical celibacy]]) unless he is formally laicized. All clergy, whether deacons, priests or bishops, may preach, teach, baptize, witness marriages and conduct funeral liturgies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons |url=http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/diaconate/faqs.cfm |author=Committee on the Diaconate |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |access-date=9 March 2008}}</ref> Only bishops and priests can administer the sacraments of the Eucharist, Reconciliation (Penance) and Anointing of the Sick.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_P16.HTM Canon 42] Catholic Church Canon Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P1D.HTM Canon 375] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219141242/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P1D.HTM |date=19 February 2008 }}, Catholic Church Canon Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.</ref> Only bishops can administer the sacrament of Holy Orders, which [[ordination|ordains]] someone into the clergy.<ref name="OneFaith114">Barry, p. 114.</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page