Case 3. A Fallen Priest

Caius, a priest of the province of England, began to indulge in drunkenness and other vices and, neglecting clerical obligations also, visited a public theater where stage performances were being given. Shortly afterwards, having been deprived of his faculties by the Bishop, he withdrew to Scotland, where under another Bishop he again began to exercise priestly functions. When Titius, Caius’s confessor, had learned all these things, he consequently doubted what was to be done, for Caius had never sought absolution from any censure imposed upon priests in England for attendance at the theater. Hence it is asked:

1. What penalty is imposed upon English priests for attendance at the theater?

2. What are the effects of suspension?

3. How does a censure cease?

4. What is to be said of the case?

1. What penalty is imposed on English priests for frequenting the theater?

The Fourth Council of Westminster decreed as follows: “ We strictly prohibit ecclesiastics who have received sacred Orders from being present at stage representations in public theaters, or in places temporarily made use of as public theaters, under the penalty to transgressors of suspension to be incurred ipso facto such as has hitherto been the rule in all parts of England with reservation to the respective ordinaries.”¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. i, 614.

2. What are the effects of suspension?

Total suspension deprives the cleric of the use of all sacred Orders, the exercise of his office, and the fruits of his benefice.²

2 Ibid., vol. ii, 380.

3. How does a censure cease?

As a general rule a censure which has been incurred only ceases when absolution has been obtained by the delinquent from one who is competent to give it. Sometimes, however, a censure is imposed to last as long as certain conditions last, and then on the termination of those conditions the censure ceases.³

3 Ibid., 373.

4. The case. Caius incurred suspension reserved to his bishop by going to the theater. He had never been absolved from this censure. His confessor Titius, or else Caius himself, should wi-ite to his former bishop and ask him for powers to put Caius straight. On the receipt of those powers Titius may deal with the case. In the meantime Caius should abstain from the exercise of his office as a priest under pain of grave sin. If since his suspension he has exercised sacred Orders solemnly, he has incurred irregularity from which he must be dispensed before again exercising his functions.