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Hi, John —
Yes, there are several special exceptions. Married priests are the norm in the Eastern Catholic
churches. The married priesthood is simply a discipline so exceptions can and are granted.
In the Roman Rite, the exception is called the pastoral provision and
applies to those ordained in certain other communities who are married
and convert to Catholicism. Typically this is restricted to Episcopal priests
and Lutheran pastors, but it is possible others are admitted on a case-by-case
basis. The pastoral provision is offered as a grace to make it easier for
Protestant pastors to convert. Otherwise they would lose their livelihood.
Typically, in Eastern Rites, the married priesthood is unrestricted in
their natural territory (i.e., for the Ukrainian Church,
this would be Ukraine), but in the U.S. it is severely curtailed.
There are ways around
it, however, typically by ordaining priests overseas.
Eric
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