Defrocking, unfrocking, degradation, or laicization of clergy is the removal of their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. It may be grounded on criminal convictions, disciplinary problems, or disagreements over doctrine or dogma, but may also be done at their request for personal reasons, such as running for civil office, taking over a family business, declining health or old age, desire to marry against the rules for clergy in a particular church, or an unresolved dispute. The form of the procedure varies according to the Christian denomination concerned.
The words "defrocking" or "unfrocking" refers to the ritual removal of the frock-like vestments of clergy and ministers. These rituals are generally no longer practiced and were sometimes separate from dismissals from ordained ministry, leading some to contend that modern use of "defrocking" is inaccurate.[1] However, others maintain "defrocking" as a common synonym for laicization, one particularly popular in English.[2][3]
- ^ Stravinskas, Peter M.J. (1991). Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia. p. 293.
- ^ Attwater, Donald (1962). A Catholic Dictionary (3rd ed.). New York City: Macmillan Company. p. 140, 505.
- ^ Schmalz, Mathew (20 February 2019). "Theodore McCarrick will continue to be a Catholic priest". The Conversation. Retrieved 18 December 2022.