“You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:6). 

Some of you might be saying, “well, that is no longer true.” Many of us have heard about men who have left the priesthood or removed from the priesthood because they committed some crime. If you have been reading articles about the current crisis in the Church, you probably have seen the word “laicization” used for when a priest is “kicked out” of the priesthood. Despite all that you have read and heard, it is still true; once a priest, always a priest.

There are three sacraments which leave an “indelible mark” on the soul: baptism, confirmation, and Holy Orders. Just like a person cannot be “unbaptized,” once a man has been ordained, there is a mark on his soul which can never be removed. So, what does it mean when a priest is laicized?

It is a little complicated, but bear with me. There is a difference between having the ability to do something and the right or responsibility to do that thing. For example, after taking drivers education and getting some practice behind the wheel, you will have the ability to drive a car, but until you get your driver’s license, you will not have the right to drive a car. And for serious violations, you could have your driver’s license taken away. You would still have the ability to drive, but no longer have the right to drive.

The laicization of a priest is kind of like that, but at the soul-level. At his ordination, the very being of a man is changed, he is configured to Christ in a special way so that he has the sacred power to minister as a priest – namely, to consecrate bread and wine so that they become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, and to forgive sins. That sacred power can never be taken away, but the priest’s right and responsibility to exercise that sacred power and to live according to the priestly state can be removed. As a punishment for some serious crime, or for some other grave reason (which could be voluntary), a priest can be laicized, losing the right and responsibility to exercise the sacred power of priesthood.

A laicized priest no longer has the responsibility to pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily, cannot celebrate Mass, or hear Confessions. Strictly speaking, he still has the obligation of celibacy, but typically the Pope will release the laicized priest from that obligation. Once a priest is laicized, the Church no longer has the obligation to owe him a living, provide him medical care, or have any legal responsibility for him.

So what would happen if a laicized priest were to go into a church and celebrate Mass? (Actually, this was a problem on cruise ships for a while) Would the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus? Yes they would, for he still has the sacred power. The Mass would be valid, but not licit, and the laicized priest would be committing a grave sin.

Confession is a different matter because a priest needs to be give the “faculty” to hear confessions specifically by his bishop, so if you went to a laicized priest for confession and he gave you absolution, you would NOT have your sins forgiven. (If you are in danger of death, then you could as the “Church would supply” the laicized priest the faculty just for that emergency situation).