can a laicized priest receive communion

| Irondale, AL 35210 |. It would be necessary to see how far, in the case of the person involved, the motivation of entering the seminary as a cover for his condition affected his will and his capacity to make a correct intention. There certainly are states where particularly horrendous murderers are put to death, while others are sent to prison for life, and still others are imprisoned for lesser periods. These sacraments are not repeated and are not temporary. Contact Us: 905-707-7800 (Office) First of all, a priest who attempts to marry does not incur a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication. The place where the rules are spelled out, somewhat surprisingly, is not in the Code of Canon Law or any other universally-binding piece of law but in a document that is issued to each priest as he is laicized. Again, to answer the O.P.s questions: married priests and deacons do not have to abstain from the sexual act with their wives. In every one of the canons cited above, that describe crimes for which the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state can be imposed, this punishment is mentioned only as a possibility. rev2023.3.3.43278. The reason is: Christ is the principal actor of the sacraments, so they are efficacious even when performed by an unworthy minister. He spent his life working for the local Sewerage & Water Board as a chemist, and tried to raise his boys in the Faith. This is a fairly minimum intention and means that a sacrament would be valid even if a minister lacked faith in the sacrament, or were in a state of mortal sin. I thought that was confusing it sounded like he had retired or something. I dont think we should assume that because a man didnt keep his vow of celibacy, perhaps made for the wrong reason (ie, not disappointing his mother.. or not being a failure at what he set out to do) that he would necessariliy teach false theology or inaccurate church history. Considering some of the boners Ive pulled, especially when I had lots and lots of time to think about them beforehand and thus had time to make really elaborate boners. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 3). Post navigation Jay, But the fact remains that the circumstances surrounding some are even worse than others, and the punishments inflicted on their perpetrators should and do vary for this reason. Our reply on the validity of Mass celebrated by a priest in mortal sin (Feb. 8) spurred several related questions. Granted, a cleric deacon, priest, or bishop may be freed from the clerical state and dispensed from the promise of celibacy by the proper authority. Instead, he would have to have permission from the Holy Father and complete whatever other requirements the bishop or other Church authority would impose. Well, Im sure as heck in no position to make snarky comments. A: When receiving or celebrating the sacraments, the priest is subject to the same requirements of sanctity and state of grace as every other Catholic; that is, the state of grace is required for fruitful reception of all sacraments except those that actually forgive sins. Please note that in average it will take 2 - 5 weeks before Fr. What is the biblical basis for in the catholic theology of a priest being in "persona christi"? canonlawmadeeasy@yahoo.com It should first be pointed out that the CDF did not even have jurisdiction over clerical sex-abuse cases in the Church until 2001, when Pope John Paul II issued his motu proprio document Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (available on the Vaticans website, but in Latin). Unfortunately, however, sometimes ordained priests decide, for a variety of reasons, that they no longer can or want to live as priests. This is an option for lay people. Nevertheless, deacons (and priests in the Eastern churchesas well as in some rare cases in the Western church), but not bishops, may be chosen from among married men. 4) He cant do anything at all in a seminary. Now I realize he groomed me, too. If he has the faculties, the confessor will absolve the penitent directly. And what do you think is the interpretation of some work of piety or charity should be imposed on him? Can a laicized priest receive the sacraments? Take canon 1395.2, the canon addressing sexual abuse of minors: the law states that the perpetrator is to be punished with just penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state if the case so warrants. So did the CDF, under its then-Prefect, Cardinal Ratzinger, therefore fail in its duty to forcibly laicize this priest? But I can see why the Church made rules like this. (Please note that in the case of Holy Orders, the man receives the sacrament in three degrees diaconate (deacon), presbyterate (priest), and episcopate (bishop), which alone confers the fullness of the character of the sacrament. If the penitent prefers, he can make that recourse himself, although it is preferable to go through the confessor in order to protect the penitents identity. Two spokeswomen for the Diocese of Grand Rapids said they did not have access to the dioceses . And since teaching the faithful is an aspect of being a priest, teaching at a University as a layicized priest would be a way to become a pseudo-priest. That ex-priest needs to refrain from serving as a pseudo-priest just as a divorced person must refrain from a pseudo-marriage. As the Holy See is currently preparing a document on the overall question of admitting homosexuals to sacred orders, I will limit my comments strictly to the question of possible invalidity. Just my opinion Twenty years later, he decided to return to the Catholic Church. 7) He cant serve a director (e.g., school principal) in a parochial school. He cannot go on living "as brother and sister" with his putative spouse. Once a priest always a priest (no matter what). Even though the cleric has been laicized and no longer functions as a deacon, priest, or bishop, he still has the sacramental character of Holy Orders. A.A., Springfield, Massachusetts. It is possible to dismiss a child-molesting priest from the priesthood; but it is certainly not compulsory in every single case. The spiritual character cannot be lost due to mortal sin, even though the state of sanctifying grace can. Perhaps the most infamous story was the New York Times piece suggesting that Pope Benedict XVI, while still Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) under the late Pope John Paul II, failed to take appropriate action against a notorious child molester here in the US. Yet, the sacrament would be valid; that is, there would be a true consecration and a true sacrifice. It makes me sad. But he is not (as AthanasiusOfAlex points out) excommunicated by that fact. Note that the code requires a grave reason in order to avail of this exception. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. But in the parishes I have been connected with, Ive never heard of lay lectors being installed in any wayat best, theres a brief training session, then how often do you want to be on the calendar? As I read the rescript, the emphasis seems to be on office of teaching in seminary/college/parochial school, not parish catechesis, but I could be wrong. But the actual proceedings against the priest in question had to be initiated by the source that had informed the CDF in the first place, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Im guessing that the forbidding of various positions of authority has to do with avoiding confusion about whether they have any pastoral authority. I could use so much of knowledge and experience for some retreats and teaching sacraments, devotions and protection of our Church or individual souls. 2 by the penalty of dismissal lawfully imposed; Returning to active ministry is a delicate issue that the priest will discuss with his bishop. What it says on that rescript is what that priest is allowed to do or not do. With regard to the celebration of a canonical marriage, the norms set down in the Code of Canon Law must be applied. Before you ask your question, you may want to check the topic index to see if your question or one with the same topic may have been answered previously already. He had left the priesthood years ago, and been laicized. That document is known as a rescript of laicization, and one is issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for each priest who is laicized. Is it Valid If I Marry Him Just For His Money? But as for those cases where a proper investigation has been made and a cleric has been punished in some other way, journalists have no right to judge whether that cleric should have been dismissed from the clerical state. As St. Thomas Aquinas says: Christ may act even through a minister who is spiritually dead. On the other hand, as Canon 1087 says, those who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders are impeded from contracting marriage (unless, of course, they are given an indult after laicization). The defrocking means they are free of the rights and responsibilities of the position. I needed to grow! All clergy without exception, as the O.P. In Catholicism, a laicized priest is forbidden to exercise his priestly functions, but an indelible priestly character is held to remain on his soul. Such a simulation of a sacrament would be extremely grave and is severely punished in canon law. Annointed hands always annointed hands?? Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Sorry but it sounds like tearing his clothes off! Now, it appears, priests can receive such dispensations virtually. But minor changes would not do so. Anyone can make a mistake. Phatmass.com Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. (The minor modifications would concern things like the name of the current pontiff, the fact that the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is now called just the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and updating the numbers of a couple of canons that allow laicized priests to hear deathbed confessions, since the numbers are different in the 1983 Code than they were in the 1917 Code). Why arent all the priests in these cases being dismissed from the clerical state, or defrocked? Many of them probably just want to get on with their lives quietly. Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Home \ Uncategorized \ can a laicized priest receive communion . Yet, the sacrament would be valid; that is, there would be a true . [Published in Canon Law Digest, vol. Can. Just my deux centimes. 2284.) No priest could be found to hear the persons confession. 1 by a judgement of a court or an administrative decree, declaring the ordination invalid; The mistakes were made here, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, in the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s, by the Church, by civil authorities, by church officials, and by bishops. Im one of them. I strongly believe, that being 100% faithful Catholic to the teaching of the Church, many people could benefit (including priests or seminarians) from some of my experience after. The Communion Procession is an action of the Body of Christ. Can a laicized priest (and get married) receive communion? Dont you think it is more courageous an honest thing to come up to your bishop and asked to be relieved? What about celebrating the Mass by himself? Such a free choice could not be termed defrocking, which implies a punitive measure taken against a priest because of objectionable conduct. In such cases we saw that they can petition the Vatican to be released from the clerical state (c. 290 n. 3). Since his promise to celibacy is dispensed, he may validly and licitly be married in the Church if there is no other impediments or restrictions associated with him and his intended spouse. Either wishful thinking (from those who admire the man, but misunderstand the priesthood) or damnable detraction (from those who dislike the man). Sign up for a new account in our community. and see "Can a Non-Catholic Receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church?" for more on this). This is because the spiritual well-being of a dying person "trumps" the laicized priest's obligation to refrain from priestly ministry. One such grave reason is based on the principle of the good of souls. Therefore, when a man is ordained as a priest, he receives this sacred character to act in the person of Christ and as His instrument for His Church. 3. A priest who is forcibly laicized still remains a priest, since, as we have seen, it is impossible to undo his priestly ordination (c. 1338.2). I suppose it does leave open things like lector or catechist. Instead, it seems that they base the rescripts on the same template (kind of like a form letter) and basically lay down the same rules for each priest who is laicized. My paternal grandfather was a Jesuit long before V2. I actually thought of starting a ministry to the priests that are not functioning. Like children in Fatima, God will find the way at the right time, place, circumstance, etc. Even if he remains a priest, though, the man is still responsible for his minor children, and will have to make some sort of arrangement for their welfare. This guy had YEARS to plan, pray, and think about his decision to be a priest. Thus, as Canon 916 of the Code of Canon Law states: "A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible (see also Canon 1335).". Laicization, by nature, is the canonical process of the Church in which a ordained priest is removed from ministerial faculties and the promise to celibacy is dispensed. Lastly, some work of piety or charity should be imposed on him. Similarly, a Catholic is not permitted under canon law to attend an Episcopal or Anglican liturgy and . Similarly, canon 1395.1 states that a cleric living in concubinage (i.e., living with a woman as if she were his wife), or engaging in some other external sin against the Sixth Commandment, can receive the same punishment if he persists in this offence.