Defrocking means removing a layer of supervision
Contrary to popular belief, a Catholic priest cannot be unordained any more than a person can be unbaptized. As stated in paragraph 1583 of the Catholic Catechism, “ordination is forever.” [“Vatican defends handling of priest’s case,” News, April 11.]
Canon law does recognize “dismissal from the clerical state.” This generally means a priest is dispensed from his priestly vows and the bishop is relieved from that point forward of his responsibility for and obligations to the priest. With respect to a priest charged with molesting minors, such dismissal is advantageous to the church in the sense that the bishop will no longer be responsible for supervising and monitoring the priest’s activities and will not be liable for future misconduct.
However, dismissal could be disadvantageous to the public, as one control for keeping the offenders away from minors will no longer exist. The offender will be a “free agent,” released from the bishop’s supervision, and subject only to one restraint — the law. Before dismissal, there were two restraints —the bishop’s supervision and the law.
— Peter Anderson, Mercer Island