It is not clear to me if Fr. Daniel Horan, famous, somewhat heterodox, contributor to the National Catholic Reporter, is seeking laizization or is leaving just the Franciscans. He has written a long, somewhat narcissistic, explanation as to why he is leaving the Friars Minor. You can read it here.
Here is a photo of the then Franciscan celebrating his look at me Modern Mass. Please note the container for the bread to be consecrated are baskets with a napkin under the hosts. This was done in the 70’s and I did it at my first Mass for Corpus Christi, June 8, 1980. Talk about a throw-back to a liturgical abuse that was dealt with in the two papacies prior to Pope Francis:
But lest we blame just the “look at me” Modern Mass, many so-called orthodox priests, technically neo-orthodox in my book, are leaving the priesthood even though they celebrate the “look at God” Ancient Mass.
We know to that orthodox and heterodox Catholics often don’t last too long in Holy Matrimony either. What accounts for a lack of desire to follow through on lifelong religious promises and vows.
1 comment:
Father AJM,
Fr. (for now?) Horan states in his NcR post that he is seeking dispensation from the obligations of holy orders, which, if I am not mistaken, is commonly referred to as laicization. He also refers to "retirement from sacramental ministry"--not a legal term, but indicative nonetheless. But IANACL
As for your bigger question--married Catholics, "trad" priests, "prog" priests all having some who fall away. Is it a condition of human fallenness, something always with us to one degree or another? Have we simply stripped away the many external pressures keeping people in their chosen state in life even when they waver, such that departures have risen noticeably? Are there unique spiritual attacks on those bound in those sacraments? I do not know. I do know that being more traditionally-oriented theologically or liturgically hardly makes one immune from concupiscence or poor decision-making, though I don't think that's ever been reasonably claimed.
Nick
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