I have done a lot of research into this issue since for over a decade now, I have noticed how such families are badly treated (in Catholic parishes! and by priests and the parishioners).

What do you think is the cause of such ill- treatment towards these families?  In fact, watching this injustice over the years has lead me to consider in working as a therapist for a Catholic organization that actually helps these families. As a side note, such “fatherless families” I am referring to are those who were raised in Traditional Catholicism. This is more based around fraternal charity, since of course, we are not all raised the same (different backgrounds, stories, etc) and that cannot be helped. 

I really would like to hear from all of you on this forum; do share your thoughts and concerns. I will use your  experiences for the future. 

Have you known any such families in your traditional circles? How did the children turn out, as they grew into adulthood? Did they fall away from the Faith or kept the Faith? Do you feel that such families are pitied? Shunned? Considered worthless and unstable? Turned down from parish leaderships, seminary and/convent, teaching jobs in Catholic schools, others chosen for roles instead of the “fatherless child” getting the role? etc. 

Well, I'll refrain from giving my opinion on the issue, since personal opinions are worthless.

The Church, however, considered "illegitimacy" to be an impediment to the priesthood, at least until Vatican II (which is what most Trads go by). So without special permission, men born outside of a lawful marriage could not become priests. The priestly candidate needed an actual dispensation if he was illegitimate (The Latin "spure" in used in by the Church, which translates "spurious" or "bastard").

The Church seems to think that they are, in some way, damaged goods. Regardless of whose fault it is.

Keep in mind that God clearly intended for children to have both a father and a mother in their education and upbringing. Take the father, for example. The father actually stands in for God Himself, teaching the children indirectly what God is like. Is he strong? wise? loving? just? fair? overly strict? unreasonable? always angry? violent? absent?

They can't see God, but they can see their father. Their concept of Authority, Fatherhood, God, etc. all comes from what they observe in their father. It's a grave responsibility!

The only single-parent home I know of among traditional Catholics is my own, though in my case it would be a "motherless child", not a "fatherless child".  Such a home is very much an anomaly in American society, a fortiori in traditionalist circles.  I've never perceived any unspoken prejudice, nor have I ever been treated shabbily on account of it.  In fact, I find fellow traditionalists to be very supportive of me.  People are aware that my wife is "remarried" in a mortally sinful sham relationship, and that I live celibately.  If there's any murmuring about our home situation, I know nothing of it, and I don't think there is.  The fact that I homeschool (another thing usually reserved for the mothers) is also received favorably.

My father was raised without a father of his own (died when he was 9 years old), and it was tough.  My grandmother cleaned house for people and made knitted handicrafts which she sold, and my father did every kind of odd job imaginable.  Thankfully my father had a sister who married a reasonably well-to-do man, and she was able to help the family make ends meet.

Motherless families ARE included. However, I only mentioned fatherless families because this is the particular I have dealt with over the years. We know how it goes in court: the woman usually gets custody of the children, if there are any. Yet, there are the men that do raise children while the women are off doing their own thing.

Another point I would also like to make is a fragile one: women are more delicate than men. No one would dare mess with the father who is raising the children (while the wife is off living a bad life). And so, SimpleMan, I salute you on that one. Fight the good fight! Homeschooling is excellent. 

From what I’ve seen, the single mother is more targeted by the parishioners. Again, no one would dare mess with the single father. 

Well, I'll refrain from giving my opinion on the issue, since personal opinions are worthless.

The Church, however, considered "illegitimacy" to be an impediment to the priesthood, at least until Vatican II (which is what most Trads go by). So without special permission, men born outside of a lawful marriage could not become priests. The priestly candidate needed an actual dispensation if he was illegitimate (The Latin "spure" in used in by the Church, which translates "spurious" or "bastard").

The Church seems to think that they are, in some way, damaged goods. Regardless of whose fault it is.

Keep in mind that God clearly intended for children to have both a father and a mother in their education and upbringing. Take the father, for example. The father actually stands in for God Himself, teaching the children indirectly what God is like. Is he strong? wise? loving? just? fair? overly strict? unreasonable? always angry? violent? absent?

They can't see God, but they can see their father. Their concept of Authority, Fatherhood, God, etc. all comes from what they observe in their father. It's a grave responsibility!

It is unfortunate to say that it has been seen that such fatherless/motherless children have been called “bastards” for this very reason. Those that said it came from a family of good parents. 

Eventually, everything is weighed on the scale. 

Christo Rege:  I salute your efforts and pray for your help/outreach.  Be careful of Catholic organizations. Those are usually organizations under catholic charities. They are federally funded by grants.  Some orgs like Domestic Violence can hide Planned Parenthood.

Yes, there are different ways to be motherless and fatherless.

Our marriage almost went. Adultery.  My husband was found, our traditionalist priest sought his soul, first, before anyone else. Thank God for this priest!
Women and men either one can "snap".  Rejection is the worst, before death of a spouse.  We survived.  As a victim I asked this priest what to "do".  Three rosaries a day, he recommended.  I thank God for this priest every day!  I did much reading to see where my husband was coming from. He even thought of ѕυιcιdє.  That scared me.

I read that the first thing is if there is no prayerful life, the devil makes his way in.  This was true of my husband.  Even if I tried in the past to encourage him, it was his decision.  Now he is in a very prayerful life.  Our children see him and look up to him.  The children 3, living have children and we are in a traditional church/Mass at this point.  I thanked this priest 15 years ago, for it it was not for him and God, our family would have been totally destroyed!

I got a good attorney who secured for me as much custody as it was possible to get, primary physical custody that has morphed into, for all intents and purposes, de facto sole custody.  It's counter-cultural, especially in the South, but the only "pushback" I've ever gotten was from my son's former Newchurch parish school, the principal made it clear that she sided with the mother, and bristled at the fact that I used my veto power to keep my son from being given ADHD drugs (she was known for recommending putting boy pupils on them, to which "go along to get along" sycophantic Newchurchers would acquiesce, the boys went around like stoners).  Everybody else has been fine with my being the de facto full-time parent.  My son basically thinks of his grandmother (my mother) as a mother figure, and he regarded my father as a kind of "nice dad" as opposed to me having to be the "strict dad".  My son hasn't seen his mother in 2 1/2 years, and he is well aware of her mortally sinful illicit living situation (and is none too happy about it).

When the other spouse is absent, it is wise to have another step in where the pieces are missing in either the fatherhood or motherhood. This helps the children grow well and have the instruction they are entitled to have; they are even allowed to demand it. 

The world needs good fathers. The youth NEEDS leaders. St. John Bosco is a beautiful example!

I am a single father with a 7 year old daughter. Before my conversion I lived a very sinful life. I had a one night stand and got a girl pregnant. We never married. We both had issues with addiction. I left that behind when my daughter was born but she did not. I soon obtained full custody. My daughter and I live with my parents so we're fine financially. I do not work other than odd jobs here and there because I think it's important for me to be with my daughter and home school her. Obviously this isn't ideal at all but it is what it is. I am celabit of course. I doubt I'd ever be married because I doubt any trad woman would marry a 29 year old with a 7 year old child. Also I am very very shy but who knows. I don't really know what other trads think because I am very shy around people and don't talk much with anyone. I've always been this way. They way I see it she's much better off with me and immersed in traditional catholicism than with a mom and a dad who don't take seriously their faith.

If you want, start a novena to Our Lady or to even St. Rita of Cascia. I suggest doing the 54- day rosary novena. If you really want something, not just for yourself but for your daughter, go to Our Lady. Always hope and things will begin to change. 

Nothing to add to the discussion, but I would like to say that both Todd The Trad and SimpleMan are very fortunate to have their kids near them.

You should (and you probably already do) thank the good Lord everyday for this.

I live with my kid, thank God, but I imagine it would be soul crushing for me to live far from him, knowing that he is not getting the good parenting that every innocent kid should have.