Parish pastor announces resignation from priesthood

[blaskoman]

I was shocked to learn today that my parish pastor is leaving the priestly ministry.. It was announced (after mass) that his resignation has nothing to do with molestation, that it was a private matter and that parishioners were not to contact him about the matter...I just found out from a well connected person that the pastor had a girlfriend during his ministry!

I feel somewhat betrayed. This will surely cause scandal in my parish..this also raises many questions; is this poor priest no longer able to minister as a priest? Was he living in a state of sin while carrying on such relationship? (even if no physical intimacy was involved); if in a state of grave sin, was he able to confect the Eucharist?

[triumphguy]

Originally Posted by blaskoman

I was shocked to learn today that my parish pastor is leaving the priestly ministry.. It was announced (after mass) that his resignation has nothing to do with molestation, that it was a private matter and that parishioners were not to contact him about the matter...I just found out from a well connected person that the pastor had a girlfriend during his ministry!

I feel somewhat betrayed. This will surely cause scandal in my parish..this also raises many questions; is this poor priest no longer able to minister as a priest? Was he living in a state of sin while carrying on such relationship? (even if no physical intimacy was involved); if in a state of grave sin, was he able to confect the Eucharist?

Don't worry - all sacramental acts he did as a priest were valid and licit, even if (and we don't know) he was in a state of mortal sin.

The sacraments do not rely on the goodness of the person, but the Grace of God.

BTW try not to listen to gossip about him.

[iloveangels]

Originally Posted by triumphguy

Don't worry - all sacramental acts he did as a priest were valid and licit, even if (and we don't know) he was in a state of mortal sin.

The sacraments do not rely on the goodness of the person, but the Grace of God.

BTW try not to listen to gossip about him.

Correct. Just wish him well and go on with your life. This happens now and then. I'm sure that you're going to get a different priest soon and all of this will be over and things will get back to normal.

[andreashofer]

I weep for this priest, because he doesn't know how much it hurts those, who had confidence in him. Anyway, the best thing we can do regarding such priests is to pray and not to gossip about and not to judge them.

Jesus can bring him back.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen