Hilangnya Status Klerikal Seorang Imam Berdasarkan Kitab Hukum Kanonik 1983 (Kanon 290-293)

Abstract

Through the sacrament of orders a priest is perpetually marked with an “indelible character” (can. 1008) and definitvely incorporated into the clerical state. This sacramental character can never be removed, one’s juridical status as a member of the clerical state may be lost. This occurs only through death or the procedures stated in law. The priest may be not exercise his ministry, or be unfaithful to his duties as a priest, but he remains a cleric. He may leave the Church or totally renounce his faith, yet he remains a cleric forever. Our code calls for three modes of loss of clerical state (can. 290): by a judicial sentence or administrative decree, which declares the invalidity of sacred ordination; by a penalty of dismissal legitimately imposed; and by rescript of the Apostolic See which grants it to deacons only for grave causes and to the presbyters only for most grave causes. By the loss of the clerical state, a priest is no longer bound by any obligations of the clerical state. He is prohibited from exercising the power of orders, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 976 (Even though a priest lacks the faculty to hear confessions, he absolves validly and licitly any penitents whatever in danger of death from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present). By the loss of clerical state, he is deprived of all offices, functions, and any delegated power. And a priest who loses the clerical state can be enrolled among clerics again through a rescript of the Apostolic See (can. 293).