For the first time in Prince Edward Island, a married man is becoming a Roman Catholic priest.

Martin Carter, 63, said the Pope occasionally grants special permission for married men like him to become priests in cases where they have converted from other Christian churches.

The former Anglican clergyman said the church makes provisions for some cases, but he doesn't anticipate a shift in the traditional rule against Catholic priests marrying.

"Not that there is anything wrong with marriage, it's a status of life. But for the work of the church, the church becomes your bride in a sense," he said.

"That's a church law and there can be some exceptions."

Carter's ordination was to take place in a Sunday evening mass at St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown.

Still a rare event

He said married men have been able to seek permission to be ordained for about 30 years. About a dozen married men have been ordained in Canada in that time, and there are about 100 cases in the United States, he said.

And the exception doesn't just apply to Anglican priests. Carter said he's heard of instances where married Lutheran and Baptist priests became Roman Catholic priests.

However, the father of three grown children said it's still rare and he doesn't expect a rapid growth in the number of married Catholic priests.

After the Bishop of Charlottetown petitioned the Pope for special permission for Carter to be ordained, they waited 18 months for a response. Carter said the entire process took around five years.

In about a week, Carter is expected to begin working as an assisting priest in the parish of St. Piux X in Charlottetown. He is leaving his job as a research assistant at Agriculture Canada to work full-time for the church.