retired priests

[Mrs_Sally]

How do you know for sure if retired priest have faculties to hear confessions?
I went to a retired priest for several years for confession and then found out he is not in good with the local Ordinary.

If you go to confession at a parish of the diocese, the priests there will all have faculties. If you are at a retreatcenter os something like that, check with the director of the center. The centers in my diocese are also listed on the website, just like parishes.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

As others have pointed out, a priest is always a priest. To be retired simply means that they no longer have an official assignment. The upside to retirement is that a priest is relieved of all the administrative headaches that come with running a parish or church ministry. The downside is that he’s lost his “right” to a rectory and has to make his own living arrangements. So if you have a retired priest in your parish, be kind to him at holidays because he’s essentially on his own for housing and food.

In my diocese we do have a retirement house for priests and many of our parishes will have a retired priest in residence. Of course, priests who own a home retire to their own residence. One of my favorite priests has retired to Florida.

Our seminary is very full, so hopefully we will continue to have space for retired priests to live in residence at our rectories as well.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

In my diocese we do have a retirement house for priests and many of our parishes will have a retired priest in residence.

Yes, but those retirement houses aren’t free (at least not in my neck of the woods). Retired priests have to pay rent at those places. Its cheaper than owning their own home and there’s the advantage of not being alone but its not free like the rectory where housing and food were provided.

Of course, priests who own a home retire to their own residence. One of my favorite priests has retired to Florida.

Some priests get lucky with investments, inheritance, etc. I’m amongst those lucky ones who have family who look out for us.

Our seminary is very full, so hopefully we will continue to have space for retired priests to live in residence at our rectories as well.

Some dioceses have “full” seminaries but they’re not full in the sense we would have used the word in the 1960’s. I can’t speak for everywhere in the USA but here in New England many rectories were built with the idea that 4 priests would be living there. That’s simply not going to be happening in my lifetime so there should be room in rectories for retired priests. They usually “earn their keep” in the rectory by covering masses and funerals. I’d rather have a retired priest in my rectory than another full time priest, they’re cheaper. LOL.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Yes, but those retirement houses aren’t free (at least not in my neck of the woods). Retired priests have to pay rent at those places. Its cheaper than owning their own home and there’s the advantage of not being alone but its not free like the rectory where housing and food were provided.

Some priests get lucky with investments, inheritance, etc.

Some dioceses have “full” seminaries but they’re not full in the sense we would have used the word in the 1960’s. I can’t speak for everywhere in the USA but here in New England many rectories were built with the idea that 4 priests would be living there. That’s simply not going to be happening in my lifetime so there should be room in rectories for retired priests. They usually “earn their keep” in the rectory by covering masses and funerals. I’d rather have a retired priest in my rectory than another full time priest, they’re cheaper. LOL.

We have a very large rectory. Currently we do have 4 priests living there. We call it “Fr. Pastor’s Home for Wayward Priests” since our pastor always has a guest or priest “in-residence”. (Tongue in cheek of course on the “wayward” - they are all wonderful priests.)

Yes, the diocesean retirement home does cost money, but as you say, it is better than living alone on a regular apartment, especially as a priest grows older and needs more care.

We have about 40 seminarians, so probably not “full” in the historic sense of the word. Praying we get back to being close to those numbers with men who are truly devoted to the priesthood and parish life.

 

[Spirithound]

To be retired… The downside is that he’s lost his “right” to a rectory and has to make his own living arrangements.

I may be mistaken, but I am sure that dioceses around here take care of their priests for life.

 

[Spirithound]

How do you know for sure if retired priest have faculties to hear confessions?
I went to a retired priest for several years for confession and then found out he is not in good with the local Ordinary.

I don’t want to sound insensitive, but I have always figured the answer should be obvious. Basically, consider your sources for finding out that he is a priest. Are they trustworthy? Would they lead you astray? Did you first meet him personally? I should think that a priest being stripped of his faculties to hear confessions would be made public knowledge.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

From what I heard a laicized priest does not have the ability to absolve sins unless he is given jurisdiction from a bishop.
Then I do not think he would be laisized anymore.

Read what I wrote carefully. Every priest, even a laicized priest can absolve sins in the case of grave emergency.

From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 976 Even though a priest lacks the faculty to hear confessions, he absolves validly and licitly any penitents whatsoever in danger of death from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

There are three things related to a priest’s capacity for function:

1. Once ordained, he is a priest forever, which is absolutely un-revokable under any circumstances (as in, not possible).
2. A priest functions legally only with the permission of a bishop - which are called his “faculties” (i.e. his permission to function publicly as a priest).
3. An assignment, as in being appointed “pastor” or “vicar” etc. in a parish. A priest does not necessarily have to be in an appointment to function legally. Most retired priests are allowed to hear confessions, say mass, etc., as the guests of other priests in a diocese if they are in good standing with the bishop, but they still must have their “faculties.”

There are validly ordained priests who function illegally around the country, though - typically priests who left the active ministry without permission to get married, etc., or were fired for disobedience, or whatever.

 

[dochawk]

. I can’t speak for everywhere in the USA but here in New England many rectories were built with the idea that 4 priests would be living there. That’s simply not going to be happening in my lifetime so there should be room in rectories for retired priests. They usually “earn their keep” in the rectory by covering masses and funerals. I’d rather have a retired priest in my rectory than another full time priest, they’re cheaper. LOL.

In my parish growing up, the dioces explicitly prohibitted retired priest from living in the rectory.

so when Fr. Essig, who founded the parish and was pastor until retirement retired, the men’s club simply built an apartment next to the rectory for him

hawk