Expert: Fr. Michael - 3/25/2008

Question
What can a man do in the Catholic Church who was an ordained priest,married and is now desiring to become an Episcopalian priest? I have sen him consecrate Eucharist and also help give protestant communion in public nursing home. He claims he can continue to anoint the sick according to the Catholic tradition. Thank you

Answer
Almost certainly, he is not a priest (ordained in the traditional Roman Catholic rite), but a presbyter (ordained in the New Order rite of 1968).  The latter rite is essentially Protestant in nature and only installs the recipient to "preside over the assembly," not "offer Mass for the living and the dead," as the traditional rite does.  In essence, this man was probably always a Protestant.  He can do whatever he pleases, but whatever he does isn't a true Catholic Sacrament.