I have no idea why the candidate was dismissed from the program, nor do I have a right to know. However, there are some ideas floating around on this thread that come from the secular world of work, which do not apply here. It’s important that we know this.
Religious communities and dioceses do not keep a paper trail of evaluations. This is not the norm. In fact, when an evaluation of a candidate takes place, usually, no one is allowed to take notes. It may not be recorded in any way. This protects the privacy of the committee members. The voting, if there is one, is by ballot or by a show of hands. The ballots are destroyed and no tally is ever recorded. It’s either yeah or nay. This has been the practice since before the Middle Ages. There may be dioceses that have adopted the corporate system of written evaluations, but this would be an exception not the usual for the Catholic Church.
The rules are very clear. The Church is not obliged to give a candidate a reason for dismissal. Until the individual is in vows, if he’s a religious or ordained, if he is a secular, he can be dismissed at any time during the formation period and the reason may remain known only to the major superior (for religious) or to the bishop (for seculars). The only reason given may be, “We believe that you do not have a vocation.”
Bishops are not required to consult when they dismiss or when they accept to ordain someone. It is usually done, but not because it must be done. If you have a bishop who wants to use his prerogative to dismiss, he can do so without explaining to anyone why. In secular seminaries, such as the diaconate and the diocesan priesthood, no one may be dismissed without prior knowledge and consent of the bishop, but the bishop’s authority is absolute. He may delegate it to a Formation Director. It may never be questioned by anyone. This comes from the faith of the Church that teaches us that a vocation to the secular clerical state is communicated only through the local bishop. Christ does not call anyone to the secular clerical state through any other means than through the local bishop. This does not rule out that Christ can call someone to serve him in another diocese or at a later time.
Candidates for Holy Orders or religious vows may be put on probation. This is not contrary to law. The usual way is to give them a warning. The ordination can even be postponed to allow the problem to be resolved. However, there is no current law in the Church that requires such probation. It is up to the bishop, if the candidate is for the diocese and to the major superior, if the candidate is for a religious institute. This is a secular model that the Church has never adopted, though it does make use of it from time to time.
Unless the person is a religious in solemn vows, there is no right to an appeal. Only religious in solemn vows are protected by a right of appeal, before dismissal. Even religious in simple vows do not have the right to an appeal. Because a candidate for a diocese is a secular and layperson, he does not have the same rights as do religious in solemn vows. There is no appeal, unless the local bishop agrees to hear the appeal. It’s really up to him. There is currently no law in place that requires this when a layperson is involved.
There is a law in place that allows an ordained man to appeal, even if he is secular, but to the best of my knowledge, Pope Benedict is working on reducing the circumstances under which an appeal may be made. Since I’m not a secular cleric, I have no idea when it is that a secular cleric can appeal a dismissal. This would not apply in this case, because the person was not ordained.
I understand that sadness involved here. Unfortunately, there are no canons that regulate this kind of situation. It’s really up to the local diocese. Every diocese and every religious community has its own criteria for admission and dismissal. Unlike religious communities that have a constitution that all major superiors must follow, diocesan bishops are autonomous. Bishop X can use his criteria. When he leaves office and Bishop Y takes over the diocese, he can change the criteria. A diocese is not a constitutional body, as is a religious community. A diocese is a monarchal body. If something is not in Canon Law or an established ecclesial custom, every time you have a new bishop you can get new rules.
The most productive suggestion that I can offer to the OP is to discuss this with his spiritual director. If he feels that his dismissal was unjust, he does have the right to write a response, which will be kept in his permanent file for future reference by a future bishop, should he decide to apply at a later date.
I wish that I could be of more help.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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