Holy Orders - When a priest takes a leave of absence

[baltobetsy]

What happens when a priest goes on leave of absence?

What must he do?

What may he do?

What must he not do?

Do they ever come back, or is it just a formality while they make wedding plans?

Thanks,
Betsy

[marleelynn]

not sure what a priest does when they take leave. I think they can do the sacraments in an emergency

[edited]

[Cat]

A certain priest that I know went on a leave of absence to enter an alcohol rehab center. After several months, he returned, sober and teetotaling (absolutely fine by me and my husband!). The information about his leave of absence was made public to the parish, so it's not a piece of gossip. I personally think this has made him an even better priest.

My point is, don't assume anything about a leave of absence. There are a lot of reasons and many of them are very legitimate.

[basenji]

I know a wonderful priest who returned to his home to town on a leave of abscence in order to tend to an ailing parent. I believe it was originally anticipated to be a short stay, however the Father's father is still hanging in there. We've been able to enjoy having this fine man as an extern priest for a couple of years now. It will be doubly sad when his father, a long time parishioner, passes on and the Father has to move on back to his old diocese.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Cat

My point is, don't assume anything about a leave of absence. There are a lot of reasons and many of them are very legitimate.

I know another priest that took a leave of absence to care for a terminally ill parent.

He still retained all his faculties (could say Mass, hear confessions, Annoint etc..), but had no obligations at a parish.

[baltobetsy]

The one I have in mind is doing it because of a vocational crisis. He's trying to figure out what God is really calling him to - priesthood or marriage. I wonder how many who leave under these circumstances actually return.

Betsy

[basenji]

Originally Posted by baltobetsy

The one I have in mind is doing it because of a vocational crisis. He's trying to figure out what God is really calling him to - priesthood or marriage. I wonder how many who leave under these circumstances actually return.

You know, I think I would find myself feeling betrayed if I was one of the priest's parishioners and that it'd a take a while for me to get over feeling that way. I can see that is a situation that would require a lot of prayer both for the shepherd as well as the flock. Hopefully it won't become messy (messier) and that everyone will all be to able to discern and understand the will of the Holy Spirit.

How tough that must be. Hopefully a mutually acceptable learning moment can come of it.

Peace and continued Prayers

[baltobetsy]

Originally Posted by basenji

Peace and continued Prayers

Thanks - we need it!

Betsy

[Cat]

That's a toughie, but at least he had the fortitude to take a leave of absence and seek the Lord over it.

Perhaps this is when some of the more extreme abuses occur--an uncertain priest has a chip on his shoulder, or a case of resentment against his calling, and instead of taking a leave and devoting himself to prayer and discernment, instead he acts out and takes on authority that he doesn't possess and makes "improvements" in the Mass. Eventually he is challenged over the abuses, and this makes him angry and gives him an excuse to walk away from the priesthood and sometimes even the Catholic Church. He can claim that he was "driven out."

Sad scenaria, isn't it? And I'm guessing it happens.

[baltobetsy]

Originally Posted by Cat

That's a toughie, but at least he had the fortitude to take a leave of absence and seek the Lord over it.

Perhaps this is when some of the more extreme abuses occur--an uncertain priest has a chip on his shoulder, or a case of resentment against his calling, and instead of taking a leave and devoting himself to prayer and discernment, instead he acts out and takes on authority that he doesn't possess and makes "improvements" in the Mass. Eventually he is challenged over the abuses, and this makes him angry and gives him an excuse to walk away from the priesthood and sometimes even the Catholic Church. He can claim that he was "driven out."

Sad scenaria, isn't it? And I'm guessing it happens.

Not this one. He does every word and gesture in the Mass perfectly. For heaven's sake, he bows his head at the mention of the name of the Saint of the day. I'll bet most priests don't even know that's supposed to be done.

I just hope he's really discerning and doesn't already have his mind made up.

Betsy

[Joan M]

This priest certainly has a crisis, since, for him (and all priests) the time of discernment is long past!

The years in the Seminary is the time for discernment. That ends when he accepts his bishop's invitation to be ordained.

If God was calling him to the vocation of marriage, once he is ordained a priest that then becomes his vocation, regardless of what God was calling him to before. We can make errors in our discernment, but once the decision is made, whatever we have chosen then becomes our vocation.

What this priest needs is to accept that, now that he is a priest, he needs to stop thinking "what if I made the wrong decision" and dedicate himself totally to being a priest. This is his path to holiness.

[baltobetsy]

Originally Posted by Joan M

This priest certainly has a crisis, since, for him (and all priests) the time of discernment is long past!

The years in the Seminary is the time for discernment. That ends when he accepts his bishop's invitation to be ordained.

If God was calling him to the vocation of marriage, once he is ordained a priest that then becomes his vocation, regardless of what God was calling him to before. We can make errors in our discernment, but once the decision is made, whatever we have chosen then becomes our vocation.

What this priest needs is to accept that, now that he is a priest, he needs to stop thinking "what if I made the wrong decision" and dedicate himself totally to being a priest. This is his path to holiness.

Exactly what I've planned already to say to him if I ever see him again. After I smack him upside the head and say "What are you thinking????"

Betsy

[Seatuck]

I know several priests who left the priesthood and were laicized because in the seminary they were told "don't worry about being called to marriage. The church is about to change that". There were so many witnesses that it was obvious that these men were betrayed.