Salvation and leaving priest/religious life

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SharonL

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If a priest or nun decides to leave their calling, does this affect their salvation, or is it considered the same as an “annulment” (for a divorced person)?
 
One of my sisters-in-law left the Carmelite cloister after almost twelve years because of severe health problems. She had to go through a lot of paperwork and a lot of channels before the proper authority in Rome (this cannot be handled locally) formally released her from her vows. I don’t know all the details, but I know in her case it was an extremely difficult time, for she felt that she had “failed” and not kept her promise.

Now the priesthood, as I understand it, is different. Even if a priest is laicized (returned to the lay state), he still remains a priest, even though he cannot function in that capacity unless there is a serious need or emergency (what qualifies, I cannot say). However, if he proceeds through the proper channels and his petition is granted (again, by Rome, not the local chancery office), there is no reason to believe he will be denied Heaven, depending on his reasons for leaving. Even so, until the moment of death, ANYone can sincerely repent and receive the grace of purgatory and eventually Heaven.

The decision to “leave their calling” is not one that should be taken lightly. Just like marriage, there are sacred vows taken and those vows should last until death. In the case of priests, the sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible impression upon the soul and like the Scripture says, “You are a priest forever”, and that cannot change. I don’t know that it would be considered the same as an annulment. An annulment says that a marriage never took place, so that is why I would not consider it the same as an annulment.
 
From the Code of Canon Law

Can. 976 Any priest, even though he lacks the faculty to hear confessions, can validly and lawfully absolve any penitents who are in danger of death, from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present.

This is in regard to the inquiry about laicized priests.

ourladyswarriors.org/canon/c0840-1165.htm#par1995
 
This is a difficult question that we treated at length in my Canon Law of Religious Life course and in other moral and theological courses. It was the prevailing opinion of the professors that both circumstances were grave matters but each to a different degree defined by the gravity of the bond. The hierarchy that seemed to develop was the following:
  1. Bishop leaving his ministry
  2. Priest leaving his ministry
    3a. Religious of a Pontifical Rite under solemn vows leaving vows
    3b. Religious in a Papal Enclosure under final/solemn vows leaving vows.
  3. Religious of Diocesean Rite under final vows leaving vows.
  4. Other religious leaving while under final vows.
  5. Other religious leaving while in the midst of simple vows
In particular it is interesting to note that one of my professors was involved in the process of a Dominican in Solemn Vows petitioning Rome for the release from both the clerical state and his vows. What my professor noted was that in the declaration that he received from Rome it stated, when addressing the issue of solemn vows, from the Holy Father, “I release you from your solemn vows in so far as I am able.” He found it very interesting that in the declaration itself it recognized that there is still a question of whether it is even possible to release a person from solemn vows.
 
My son said that when Father came & talked to his class about the Priesthood he said if a Priest wanted to “resign” he had to write to the Pope & ask permission and he went on to say that the last two Popes ALWAYS said no.

Do you think that is true? Or did my son misunderstand him?
 
carol_marie said:
My son said that when Father came & talked to his class about the Priesthood he said if a Priest wanted to “resign” he had to write to the Pope & ask permission and he went on to say that the last two Popes ALWAYS said no.

Do you think that is true? Or did my son misunderstand him?
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I personally know of a least three cases where petition for laicization was granted from Rome. One has been under this Pontificate and the other two under the previous so I would say that there is a misunderstanding on the part of one or the other.
 
mosher said:
I personally know of a least three cases where petition for laicization was granted from Rome. One has been under this Pontificate and the other two under the previous so I would say that there is a misunderstanding on the part of one or the other.
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Since I know both my Priest and my 14 yr. old son… I’d say it was my son who is confused. 😉
 
There was an ex priest (I know that he is still techniquely a priest) that got married who taught at my school.
 
bluerose said:
One of my sisters-in-law left the Carmelite cloister after almost twelve years because of severe health problems. She had to go through a lot of paperwork and a lot of channels before the proper authority in Rome (this cannot be handled locally) formally released her from her vows. I don’t know all the details, but I know in her case it was an extremely difficult time, for she felt that she had “failed” and not kept her promise.

Now the priesthood, as I understand it, is different. Even if a priest is laicized (returned to the lay state), he still remains a priest, even though he cannot function in that capacity unless there is a serious need or emergency (what qualifies, I cannot say). However, if he proceeds through the proper channels and his petition is granted (again, by Rome, not the local chancery office), there is no reason to believe he will be denied Heaven, depending on his reasons for leaving. Even so, until the moment of death, ANYone can sincerely repent and receive the grace of purgatory and eventually Heaven.

The decision to “leave their calling” is not one that should be taken lightly. Just like marriage, there are sacred vows taken and those vows should last until death. In the case of priests, the sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible impression upon the soul and like the Scripture says, “You are a priest forever”, and that cannot change. I don’t know that it would be considered the same as an annulment. An annulment says that a marriage never took place, so that is why I would not consider it the same as an annulment.
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Actually the equivalent of a declaration of nullity trial of marriage is the declaration of nullity of ordination.

From the Code of Canon Law

TITLE II: CASES FOR THE DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF SACRED ORDINATION

Can. 1708 The right to impugn the validity of sacred ordination is held by the cleric himself, or by the Ordinary to whom the cleric is subject, or by the Ordinary in whose diocese he was ordained.

Can. 1709 ß1 The petition must be sent to the competent Congregation, which will decide whether the case is to be determined by the Congregation of the Roman Curia, or by a tribunal designated by it.

ourladyswarriors.org/canon/c1671-1716.htm#par3564
 
prv said:
Actually the equivalent of a declaration of nullity trial of marriage is the declaration of nullity of ordination.

From the Code of Canon Law

TITLE II: CASES FOR THE DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF SACRED ORDINATION

Can. 1708 The right to impugn the validity of sacred ordination is held by the cleric himself, or by the Ordinary to whom the cleric is subject, or by the Ordinary in whose diocese he was ordained.

Can. 1709 ß1 The petition must be sent to the competent Congregation, which will decide whether the case is to be determined by the Congregation of the Roman Curia, or by a tribunal designated by it.

ourladyswarriors.org/canon/c1671-1716.htm#par3564
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You are correct that it is possible for any sacrament to be declared null but because of the nature of the Sacrament of Holy Orders this is very rare as it requires a deliberate barrier made by the Ordinand and serious defect made by the Minister.
 
So, there must not be any barriers to marriage for an ex priest and an ex nun. I know two who are married to each other, and regularly come to church. I don’t think it’s a common situation, but it does exist here in my small town.
 
paramedicgirl said:
So, there must not be any barriers to marriage for an ex priest and an ex nun. I know two who are married to each other, and regularly come to church. I don’t think it’s a common situation, but it does exist here in my small town.
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Now the other question that this brings up is the question about just leaving the vows or promises or seeking dispensation from them. If a person does not seek dispensation from the bond that exists in vows or the formal promises made by a priest then they are still bound by them and without dispensation are as state of grave sin. The previous posts I made express the gravity even if a person receives dispensation.
 
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