Dutch Priest "Marries" in the Old Catholic Church
The Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam has removed Father Nico Mantje, 67, from all priestly duties because he "married" a woman, immediately after retiring. The ceremony was officiated by a woman preacher of the Old Catholic Church.
According to Nd.nl, the priest did not request a dispensation from the vow of celibacy.
Mantje was ordained as a priest on 24 May 1997 and celebrated his silver jubilee in 2022. A classical philologist, he published a translation of early Christian hymns by the fourth-century poet Prudentius several years ago.
On August 22, Mantje announced his 'marriage' plans during his farewell Eucharist. Despite two appeals from the diocese to reconsider, he went ahead with the 'wedding'.
The ceremony took place on Wednesday afternoon at the parish of the Old Catholic Church in Egmond aan Zee, the coastal town where Mantje has lived since retiring and where he once served as a priest.
Mantje's partner is an Old Catholic.
In a statement, the Diocese of Amsterdam described the …More
Not surprising. The "Old Catholics" went schismatic when they rebelled against the Dogma of Papal Infallibility which was solemnly pronounced in the 19tth century at VI. They claimed to be the "traditionalists" and "true Catholics" of the day. You see where they are today. Same likely fate for the "traditionalist rebels" today. As the Saints have consistently taught, schism always eventually leads to heresy.
There is a lot of confusion around the Old Catholics. There seems to be a wacky leftist wing (woman priestess) and a traditional group with a similar name.
These "old Catholics" are an odd lot. I know some ultra-trad men who, disgusted with the errors of modernist Rome & the false teaching of it's leaders, went to the Old Catholics to be ordained to Holy Orders. They were confident they had genuine sacraments & 'bishops' with valid apostolic succession. BUT, other "Old Catholics" have married men & women as "priests"! What gives?
These were the Catholic Liberals condemned by “Quanta Acura” and the “Syllabus of Errors.” Once you leave the Church and the papacy, anything goes.