My niece will be receiving a Masters of Divinity Degree next year. She inquired to the military to be a Catholic chaplain, but learned that only a priest would be accepted. I always thought that only a priest could be a chaplain. I did online research and Canon 564 "a chaplain is a priest..." and Canon 566 "...a chaplain by virtue of his office the faculty to hear confessions of the faithful entrusted to his care, to preach to them the word of God, to administer Viaticum and the annointing of the sick..." But I also found the website of National Association of Catholic Chaplains and reference is made to "his or her". I'm confused. Any suggestions what kind of employment would be available for a Catholic woman with a Divinity degree?

In the strict sense of the word, and as you cite canon law, a chaplain is a priest. In the military, only a priest can be endorsed as a chaplain, because the military understands and requires that if someone has the title and role of "Catholic Chaplain" they must be able to provide their faithful in the military with all that is normative--to include the Mass and Sacraments. Therefore, not even a deacon can be a Catholic Chaplain in the military.

On the other hand, the word "chaplain" gets used in the non-Catholic world for various men and women--many who are regarded by their own denominations as "ministers"--who serve in a religious capacity for some particular community: military, hospital, cruise ship, etc. I am not personally a fan of using the word "chaplain" for anyone other than a priest in the Catholic system, just as I am opposed to the use of using the word "minister" or "ministry" for anyone other than an ordained cleric in the Catholic system. The website to the organization you note is listed below, and while I saw one reference to the National Conference of Bishops, I would like to see more info on that site as to what, if any, official approval it has from the Church. Thanks, Jerri

Father Echert

http://www.nacc.org/

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