# Catholic Priest questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627 "2012-01-25T19:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/41 "2012-01-28T13:01:44Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > This accords with my reading on the subject – once having been ordained, they’re permanently _able_ to act in a priestly capacity within the Catholic Church, even if they “leave the ministry.” **But** their “faculties” – the authority from the church hierarchy – is impeded, so they are not _authorized_ to act, except in case of emergency, other than as a layman. (There probably needs to be a carefully worded insert here that there are limited instances where the diocesan bishop, and broader circumstances where the Vatican, may authorize a laicized priest to act in a priestly capacity.) But they not only can but should make themselves available when someone is dying or there is a widespread disaster and a normal, non-laicized priest is not available and will not be available in time. This is my understanding as well. They have the power,but not the permission except in emergencies. I don’t know if anyone ever has used it. I know that John Mc Gaughlin, was a Jesuit priest and now is married and I understand that he is still in good graces with the church. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/42 "2012-01-28T13:05:34Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Nuns I know about from personal experience. One of the nuns we knew well basically walked away. Her order (OSB) basically had to throw her out, in the process separating her from the Church and the loss of her privilege to receive communion. In short she was basically excommunicated. > > One of my wifes aunts, a nun in the same order, lost her vocation and wanted to leave. She went through the process of discernment and removal (took a little over a year) and is no longer under vows but still considered a good and faithful Catholic. She takes communion when she visits the Mother House and sometimes stays there when she is visiting in the area. > > Assuming things are similar at least for ordered priests I call it as YMMV depending on your specific actions. This is true, I personally know several nuns who left(after Vatican 2) and are married ,one with 8 children. I have 2 good friend who left and married.They still remain in good standing with the church. Although they are not a nun forever like in the priesthood. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/43 "2012-01-28T20:01:13Z")
Apropos of nuns, I know of at least one order which does not allow perpetual vows. Vows must be renewed periodically (I think the standard period is five years), so if you don’t want to stay in the order you don’t renew. In theory at least it makes things easier. I know that several of the nuns at our local convent of this order left the convent on long-term permits to care for elderly parents (up to here, standard for many orders) and did not renew their vows when the time came up; two that I can remember renewed again when their parents died, one that I know of decided to stay in secular life. They’re a relatively-new order (founded 1928) called _Esclavas de Cristo Rey_, Slaves of Christ the King; from what I can see they only have houses in several Spanish-speaking countries and in Italy. I don’t know whether there are other orders with similar arrangements. ---
**Author:** ![porqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@porqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porqui)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/44 "2012-01-28T20:28:26Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > A question from a nice Jewish boy - can a Catholic priest decide he doesn’t want to be a priest anymore and just walk away? If so, does he remain in the Catholic church? If he decides to become a minister in another Christian denomination, would his ordination be recognized, or would he have to go back to seminary? Would this not be called the classic troll ??? Notice that OP has not commented again 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/45 "2012-01-29T01:58:23Z")
> [@](#): > > This is true, I personally know several nuns who left(after Vatican 2) and are married ,one with 8 children. I have 2 good friend who left and married.They still remain in good standing with the church. Although they are not a nun forever like in the priesthood. Be careful with the terminology: Not all sisters are nuns. My mom, for instance, was briefly a sister in a Trappist convent, before deciding that it wasn’t the life for her, and leaving. Since she never took permanent vows, she wasn’t a nun. Now, it’s possible that you know several ladies who _did_ leave after permanent vows, but it’s more likely not. And **porquoi** , the OP has done nothing but ask a simple, factual question, which is not only not trollish, but is the very purpose of this forum. The fact that he’s not come back to the thread is perhaps poor form, but still very far from trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/46 "2012-01-29T05:05:37Z")
> [@porqui](#): > > Would this not be called the classic troll ??? > > Notice that OP has not commented again 🙂 **Moderator Note** **porqui** , accusations of trolling are not permitted outside of the BBQ Pit. No warning issued, but do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/47 "2012-01-29T13:19:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Be careful with the terminology: Not all sisters are nuns. My mom, for instance, was briefly a sister in a Trappist convent, before deciding that it wasn’t the life for her, and leaving. Since she never took permanent vows, she wasn’t a nun. Now, it’s possible that you know several ladies who _did_ leave after permanent vows, but it’s more likely not. > > And **porquoi** , the OP has done nothing but ask a simple, factual question, which is not only not trollish, but is the very purpose of this forum. The fact that he’s not come back to the thread is perhaps poor form, but still very far from trolling. I know several nuns who had taken their final vows, the one with the 8 children was in a cloistered order for 10 years and before that 4 years in a regular order. One was a teacher and left after vatican 2 and married, she had taken her final vows years before, I had a good friend who was a nun she also had taken vows and left, another was involved in what some call a scandle, she left and married a priest. They closed the school where she taught.I also know one lady who didn’t take final vows who left after one year, and that was before Vatican 2. she married and had 6 children. They were allowed to undo their vows. The one with 8 kids is a very much involved Catholic, her children however have left the Church and have caused her much grief.Two are relatives of mine who I know very well! ---
**Author:** ![porqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@porqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porqui)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627/48 "2012-01-29T13:48:58Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > **porqui** , accusations of trolling are not permitted outside of the BBQ Pit. No warning issued, but do not do this again. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator My apologies !! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-questions/610627.md?page=2)