Vatican defrocks priest accused of abuse

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Vatican defrocks priest accused of abuse
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Thomas Crum, who served in the Diocese of Youngstown from 1975 to 2009, was removed from the priesthood about two weeks ago, said Monsignor Robert Siffrin, vicar general of the diocese. He did not have the exact date.

Monsignor Siffrin said that after an abuse allegation surfaced in May 2009 while Crum was pastor at Our Lady of Peace Church in Canton, the diocese removed him from active duty and asked him to consider requesting removal from the priesthood, which he did.

The diocese sent the request to the Vatican, Monsignor Siffrin said, and after review, a decree from Pope Benedict XVI came back and was presented to Crum.
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1holycatholic said:
Vatican defrocks priest accused of abuse
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Thomas Crum, who served in the Diocese of Youngstown from 1975 to 2009, was removed from the priesthood about two weeks ago, said Monsignor Robert Siffrin, vicar general of the diocese. He did not have the exact date.

Monsignor Siffrin said that after an abuse allegation surfaced in May 2009 while Crum was pastor at Our Lady of Peace Church in Canton, the diocese removed him from active duty and asked him to consider requesting removal from the priesthood, which he did.

The diocese sent the request to the Vatican, Monsignor Siffrin said, and after review, a decree from Pope Benedict XVI came back and was presented to Crum.
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Keep in mind that the bishop of a diocese can, at any time he pleases, remove any priest from active ministry, i.e., remove his faculties. He need not wait for the Vatican’s permission, etc. What “defrocking” (laicizing) means is that the priest is lifted from his vow of celibacy. That’s it. He’s still a priest, and will be forever. But he may not exercise the priestly ministry (except in life/death emergency). But the bishop could have already removed him from priestly ministry at his own discretion anyway.
 
Was this priest convicted of the accusations against him? Is there any evidence that he commited acts of sexual abuse?
 
Scoobyshme said:
Keep in mind that the bishop of a diocese can, at any time he pleases, remove any priest from active ministry, i.e., remove his faculties. He need not wait for the Vatican’s permission, etc. What “defrocking” (laicizing) means is that the priest is lifted from his vow of celibacy. That’s it. He’s still a priest, and will be forever. But he may not exercise the priestly ministry (except in life/death emergency). But the bishop could have already removed him from priestly ministry at his own discretion anyway.
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There is a little more to it than that. Removal from the clerical state can be done (according to a canon lawyer I know) while not dispensing the promise (vow) of celibacy (I wonder if liberals would consider that to be cruel and unusual punishment?). It also releases them from any obligations, such as praying the LOTH.
 
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