My mother made me this blue chalice which I used every time I celebrated mass. I requested Marian blue.
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Why would a young person in their early 20s embrace celibacy as a lifelong commitment?
What are the temptations in seminary life for a young adult age 22 who enjoys dating women?
What is the inside story of the life of a parish priest?
Will you be accepted into seminary if you declare you are gay?
Former priest or still a priest?
When ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, one is ordained for life. The sacrament of holy orders imbues an indelible mark, just like baptism. You cannot be unbaptized. You cannot be unordained.
"You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4).
A priest may voluntarily request to be laicized or receive a dispensation from the Pope to be relieved of his sacramental duties, such as if he wants to get married1. But nevertheless he is still validly ordained and retains ALL his sacred abilities to perform sacraments validly, although not necessarily licitly.
Although I chose to leave ordained ministry in the Church to pursue romance, marriage, and family, I'm still a priest, to my own children and family and to all people.
Although I'm no longer involved in official ministry in the Church, if there is an accident on the highway and a victim requests to speak with a priest, I am still allowed and encouraged to come forward and minister to that person.
According to Canon Law, any priest can administer the Last Rites, which includes the sacraments of confession, viaticum (holy communion), and anointing (sacrament of the sick) when the victim is in danger of death. If the person has never been baptized and wishes to be, then baptism would be encouraged as well. These acts would be valid and licit in the eyes of the church, with full approval.
No longer a member of the organizational Catholic Church and no longer involved in sacramental ministry in that church, I am still an active priest who respects Jesus' mandate at ordination to minister to God's people and be the servant of all.
I consider myself a post-denominational priest.
1Technically if he marries the marriage is not recognized by the Catholic Church.
A note from the author
How this memoir is distinct
This coming-of-age story is a raw exposé of the sexual urgings I experienced, comingled with the desire to serve God as a celibate priest. I readily reveal the sins of the organizational Church without malice but rather a fierce love intent on reforming a flawed institution; this is my contribution to a more authentic experience of the Church Jesus intended.
- Paul
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