Hey, wait a minute!

The Emerald City Emperor linked to this article by Miss Amy. It’s a thought-provoking piece on her own marriage to a laicized priest.

What shocked me (and that’s NOT easy to do) is her assertion that so many “conservatives” are bitter toward ex-priests. Yes, the priest has made solemn vows and is sacredos in aeternum. If, though, the priest determines that something in his life is preventing him from living those vows to their full extent, three options present:

(1) He can struggle, perhaps unsuccessfully, with that issue. In many cases this struggle would of necessity be rather solitary as priests don’t often have many people to whom they can turn regarding personal issues. In fact, the mere disclosure that there is a struggle could have significant ramifications if brought to the attention of the hierarchy. In some cases, this struggle may simply not be a viable option for the individual priest.
(2) If the struggle isn’t viable, the priest has the option of leading a double life – appearing to pursue his vocation while furtively pursuing whatever it is that is preventing him from pursuing it fully. This is, of course, a recipe for disaster.
(3) The last option is for the priest to request dispensation from his vows. I sincerely doubt that anyone would take such a step lightly (then again, anyone who would take such a step lightly probably shouldn’t have ever been a priest!). There is sadness associated with the laicization of a priest, but it may well be the best option for the circumstances.

The ex-priest isn’t necessarily a hero, but he’s certainly no villain. He recognizes that he can’t fulfill the vows and, rather than making a mockery of them, shows respect for them.
It should also be remembered that all of the reasons for which a priest might request laicization are highly personal. Just as we wouldn’t want priests gossiping about what they hear in the confessional, it’s unbecoming for us to show anything other than Christian love to those priests who have been honest in assessing their ability to live out their vows.