Father and son Episcopal ministers both become Catholic priests despite being married with children

A father and son have become father and father.

The Revs Chuck Hough IV and Chuck Hough III had both been Episcopal priests in their home of Keller, Texas.

But now, even though they are both married with children, they have become Catholic priests after being ordained into the Catholic Church at the same time.

Like father, like son: Chuck Hough IV, left, and Chuck Hough III are the first in Catholic history to be ordained into priesthood at the exact same time Record: Both men were ordained in St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, Texas, at the same time - a first

When the younger Chuck Hough was growing up, his father was a leader in the Episcopal Church so he decided to follow in his footsteps, joining when he was 25.

But in 2011, both father, 57, and son decided to join the Catholic Church.

According to CNN, the Houghs first became members of the church, before applying to join as priests through the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter.

This group helps Anglicans join the Catholic communion while maintaining some hallmarks of the Anglican tradition.

The Houghs will join the 75 or so married former Episcopal priests currently ministering in U.S. Catholic parishes.



Many priests have turned away from the Anglican Church because of objections to the ordination of gay priests and women and changes to the liturgy.



This was made possible by a special arrangement called the Pastoral Provision which was approved in 1980 by Pope John Paul II.



Chuck Hough III - who had been a leader with the Episcopal Church for 30 years - told CNN: 'We felt that something was missing for years and years.

Follow in the footsteps: Former Rev Chuck Hough III followed in his father's footsteps both to be an Episcopal priest and a Catholic priest

Former Rev Chuck Hough IV said of his son: 'I have come to recognize my son's terrific gifts, and I celebrate those gifts'

'We may be the only two that have been ordained together, certainly in U.S. Catholic history.

'The father and son priests in Catholic Church history usually have been a widower who was later followed by his son.

WHAT IS PASTORAL PROVISION?

The Pastoral Provision is an arrangement granted by Pope John Paul II in 1980 for those who were formerly priests and lay-people in the Episcopal Church who now wish to enter into the Roman Catholic Church, while retaining some elements of their Anglican heritage and customs.

This provision notably allows for the continuance of an 'Anglican style' liturgy, approved by the Vatican, in The Book of Divine Worship.

It also provides a mechanism whereby former Episcopal priests who are married may be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood.

If that marriage should end, they devote themselves to a life of celibacy

Many priests have turned away from the Anglican Church because of objections to the ordination of gay priests and women and changes to the liturgy.

'I have come to recognize my son's terrific gifts, and I celebrate those gifts,' the father said. 'This is just the frosting on the cake.'

Catholic priests are usually required to remain unmarried and take a vow of celibacy.



But despite this, the Houghs were able to be formally ordained on June 30 at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, Texas.

Being a married priest does present its challenges - they are forbidden to use birth control and if they separate from their wives, then they are officially celibate for the rest of their lives.



The father and son are using their experience to try to forge a closer relationship between the Catholic and Anglican churches, which they have long been advocates of after growing up in an Anglo-Catholic diocese in Dallas.



The younger Hough said: 'When we learned we were going back to seminary together we laughed about that for sure.

'Like father, like son. If God gives me the grace to be like my father, I will be a blessed man.

'As for my mother? A wife and mother of a Catholic priest, now that's a rarity, that's the real story. But she says she feels so blessed.'

