Honorable Discharge?

[BrooklynBoy200]

If a priest were to change his mind later in life and decide that he was no longer suited to be a priest, maybe he fell in love or for w/e ever reason just decided to leave the priesthood, is it possible to leave? Would he be forever disgraced or banished or something? I’m reading a book where a priest left the priesthood (it was just mentioned in passing really so i didn’t get too many details from it) and it got me wondering. Thanks.

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Posted by BrooklynBoy200:

If a priest were to change his mind later in life and decide that he was no longer suited to be a priest, maybe he fell in love or for w/e ever reason just decided to leave the priesthood, is it possible to leave? Would he be forever disgraced or banished or something? I’m reading a book where a priest left the priesthood (it was just mentioned in passing really so i didn’t get too many details from it) and it got me wondering. Thanks.

I believe the priest can petition to be “laicized.” I don’t know the exact details. Holy Ordination, according to Latin theology, imparts a permament priestly mark or character on the man. So, I imagine the priest never really reverts to a “lay person” because of this mark.

Perhaps others here are more knowledgeable of this and can assist you.

 

[jstreets]

However the dispensation of the vow of celibacy can only be granted by the pope himself.

 

[Cran]

The priests who are dispensed are technically considered “lay” and are allowed to marry and everything - BUT if they were to celebrate a mass, it would be only illicit and not invalid. In fact, if such an “ex”-priest would encounter someone in the danger of death, he would HAVE to minister to them (confession, annotion of the sick, because of the priestly mark you spoke of earlier).

Hey, one more benefit from canon law - apart from the little bonus that our teachers may let us fail

 

[chicago]

It has occurred not infruquently (and more often than before in recent decades) that a priest for whatever reason finds that he can not continue his ministry and asks to be discharged from his priestly duties. Often, but not always, there is a woman involved in this matter. Due to the circumstances of his priesthood, he is typically forbidden in taking part in sacramental ministry in a parish (this would include things like lectoring or distributing communion) and is generally expected to take a more quiet role in his parish membership so as not to confuse or scandalize or stand out among the faithful. He basically falls into being an average Joe Catholic in the pew. It ought not necessarily be viewed as a disgrace, but often it is met with at least sadness in his not being able to fulfill this vocation. Ideally, he can persevere as a priest, but sometimes men (understandably) aren’t able.

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Posted by chicago:

He basically falls into being an average Joe Catholic in the pew. It ought not necessarily be viewed as a disgrace, but often it is met with at least sadness in his not being able to fulfill this vocation. Ideally, he can persevere as a priest, but sometimes men (understandably) aren’t able.

This may sound like a wicked question, but is it possible that the priests who petition to leave the priesthood in order to become married perhaps doing the will of God? Perhaps their vocation never was to become a priest, and they were simply persuaded into becoming one…

Just a thought.

We are pre-disposed to think of this action as a sin, or at least a highly ignoble act. But does it have to be that?

 

[Timmay]

This may sound like a wicked question, but is it possible that the priests who petition to leave the priesthood in order to become married perhaps doing the will of God? Perhaps their vocation never was to become a priest, and they were simply persuaded into becoming one…

Not a wicked question at all, though it is one that a lot of (if not most) people don’t think about, or refuse to think about.

I know several laicized priests, as well as a number of men who left seminary through careful discernment. One of them actually left just a few months before ordination, after years of high school and major seminary. Though they all have different reasons for leaving, one thing I’ve heard from all of them is the pressure to be ordained.

Once you’re in seminary, most people (specifically parents and families) expect you to be ordained. It’s not about discernment, it’s not about a possibility… If you’re in the seminary, then in X years you will be a priest. End of story. People who have left the seminary partway through have met a tough time coming home, as if they’ve failed or something. The longer you’re in, the harder it is to consider leaving. So, sadly, there are a number of people being ordained who would agree they shouldn’t be. Whether out of pressure from families, or fear of not knowing what else to do with life, they go ahead and they do it.

So leaving years later, whether for a woman or not, may in many cases be the best thing for them, or for their diocese or parish. Just as in the case of late vocations some men do other things before acknowleding the will of God and following it into the priesthood, so also some men go into the priesthood and later on acknowledge and follow the will of God out.

 

[dadude]

However the dispensation of the vow of celibacy can only be granted by the pope himself.

Well the last time i checked priests don’t make a ‘vow’ of celibacy. It is a promise.

 

[Lepanto]

Well the last time i checked priests don’t make a ‘vow’ of celibacy. It is a promise.

Religious priests make a vow of celibacy = NEVER get married.

Diocesan priests make a promise of celibacy = MAY get married IF the discipline of celibacy were ever to be lifted (not likely).

 

[batteddy]

So, I imagine the priest never really reverts to a “lay person” because of this mark.

Well…not exactly.

Ordained vs. unordained is different than clergy vs. laity.

Ordained vs. unordained is an ontological, sacramental state. A priest can never become not a priest.

However clergy vs. lay refers to canonical classes within the Church. Two hierarchal status. A priest can become laity…and men not sacramentally ordained used to become clergy (through first tonsure and minor orders).

Clery and Laity are two classes, that well generally coinciding these days with Ordained and Not Ordained…do not completely correspond. Clergy is a canonical class that confers legal priveledges, rights, and duties under canon law. It can be revoked. Ordained is a sacramental state that is indelible.

 

[Pious_Mat]

From the CCC:

CHAPTER IV.

LOSS OF THE CLERICAL STATE

Can. 290 Once validly received, sacred ordination never becomes invalid. A cleric, nevertheless, loses the clerical state:

1/ by a judicial sentence or administrative decree, which declares the invalidity of sacred ordination;

2/ by a judicial sentence or administrative decree, which declares the invalidity of sacred ordination;

3/ by rescript of the Apostolic See which grants it to deacons only for grave causes and to presbyters only for most grave causes.

Can. 291 Apart from the case mentioned in ⇒ can. 290, n. 1, loss of the clerical state does not entail a dispensation from the obligation of celibacy, which only the Roman Pontiff grants.

Can. 292 A cleric who loses the clerical state according to the norm of law loses with it the rights proper to the clerical state and is no longer bound by any obligations of the clerical state, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 291. He is prohibited from exercising the power of orders, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 976. By the loss of the clerical state, he is deprived of all offices, functions, and any delegated power.

Can. 293 A cleric who loses the clerical state cannot be enrolled among clerics again except through a rescript of the Apostolic See.