Key terms.

The following terms are taken from the book ‘Our Fathers, A Phenomenon of Children of Catholic Priests and Religious’ by Vincent Doyle. (2020.)

Silentium, the process of silencing the child of an ordained person or religious, concerning the child’s identity as the child of an ordained person/religious, whilst forsaking the child’s intrinsic right to freedom and choice.

The Moral Argument, the unceasing and unyielding claim that a priest or religious must leave priesthood, ministry, in every case, if he (or she in the case of a female religious) becomes a parent. The Moral Argument is a form of coercive control.

Parēns, refers to the situation where a Latin Rite priest who becomes a parent and latterly recommits to his priestly obligations in full (including chastity & commitment to celibacy), whilst simultaneously, openly acknowledge his biological child, as he continues to work as a celibate, chaste Roman Catholic Latin rite priest. The Holy See in January 2020 admitted, such a position is “not impossible.” (Clergy., 2020)

Key terms.

Silentium, the process of silencing the child of an ordained person or religious, concerning the child’s identity as the child of an ordained person/religious, whilst forsaking the child’s intrinsic right to freedom and choice.

The Moral Argument, the unceasing and unyielding claim that a priest or religious must leave priesthood, ministry, in every case, if he (or she in the case of a female religious) becomes a parent. The Moral Argument is a form of coercive control.