[Magdalen] Bishop, please resign

[Kate Conant]

I am not Joe, but this snippet from Wikipedia is true as far as I know.  I
knew of a priest at Annunciation Cathedral in Detroit who asked to be
laicized after his wife died leaving him with several young children.

Kate

Eastern Orthodoxy[edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Defrocking&action=edit&section=2>
]

Eastern Orthodox <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox> doctrine
does not state that the priesthood confers an indelible character on the
person's soul. Laicization removes the ordained status completely.[6]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defrocking#cite_note-6>From the time of
laicization all actions of a former cleric that would have been considered
sacred are normally considered invalid.

*Laicization* of a cleric may come as a result of a request for removal
from sacred orders, or as an ecclesiastical punishment. In the first case,
very often, the cleric may ask to be laicized in order to enter a second
marriage <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage> after the divorce
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce> or the death of the spouse. In this
case, the man remains in good standing with the Church but is no longer a
cleric.

Forced laicization or removal from sacred orders is a form of
ecclesiastical punishment, imposed by the ruling bishop of this cleric for
certain transgressions. According to the canonical procedure, if the cleric
is found guilty of an infringement of a sacred vow
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sacred_vow&action=edit&redlink=1>,
unrepentant heresy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy>, breaking of canon
law <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_law> or ecclesiastical discipline
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discipline>, he can be suspended from
exercising all clerical functions. If, disregarding his suspension, he
continues to liturgize or does not repent of his actions, he may be
permanently deposed from the sacred orders (in common parlance,
"laicized"). Strictly speaking, the deposition can be appealed at the
ecclesiastical
court <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastical_court>, but, in modern
practice, the bishop's decision is usually final.

Laicization as an ecclesiastical punishment may carry with it the
excommunication <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excommunication> of the
former cleric from the church for a certain period, or indefinitely. The
anathema <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathema>, the permanent act of
excommunication, against a member of the church or a former cleric is
usually imposed by the decision of the synod of bishops or the
ecclesiastical council. In such cases, this not only defrocks the former
cleric but also banishes him from entering an Orthodox
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church> church, receiving
the Eucharist <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist> and other sacraments
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacraments>, and being blessed by a priest.


"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk
humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 8:36 PM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

>
>
> In a message dated 1/29/2015 7:45:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> jhandsfield at att.net writes:
>
> I知 not  one of those who buys into the ontological argument.  I think
> ordained  orders are a mantle laid across the shoulders of the cleric and
> represents the  Church recognizing who they are, not unlike Elijah
> removing his
> mantle and  placing it on the shoulders of Elisha.>>>
>
> I think, though, that the permanence of Orders is the rule in the  West.
>
> I also understand that the East does revoke Orders leaving the person
> so affected as though they had never been ordained.  Someone who
> knows more about the East (Joe!) may wish to comment about that.
>
>
> David Strang.
>