On Monday, the diocese issued a statement noting Marshall had received a formal letter of complaint from the Standing Committee saying [Gregory] Malia “has by certain publicly known actions and failures to act, abandoned the Discipline and Worship of this Church.”
The bishop then issued a new inhibition that bars Malia from conducting priestly ministries or presenting himself as a priest. The renewed restrictions come with a deadline: Malia has six months “to make matters completely right according to the Church’s canon law.”
Marshall wrote that “If at the end of six months matters remain as they are now, formal deposition will take place.” Deposition is what is commonly referred to as [being] “defrocked,” meaning Malia would be permanently removed from the priesthood.
On the one hand, I suppose it’s good to know that someone in TEC is being disciplined for apparently scandalous behavior. It’s a rare sign of intelligent life in TEC.
On the other hand, I wish there weren’t so much publicity. This guy needs some breathing room so that he can get the counseling and direction that he apparently needs. That being said, I think that anyone who seeks Holy Orders needs to know that society will hold him to higher moral standards, and that violations will hit the news media.
Abandonment, no. Compromised, yes. Poor use of words. Where do they get there legal help?
[Comment deleted by Elf]
2. francis wrote:
[blockquote]Abandonment, no. Compromised, yes. Poor use of words. Where do they get there legal help?[/blockquote]
Probably ex-bishop Bennison, retired bishop Dixon and the Presiding Bishop. They have discovered that the “abandonment of communion” canon is an easy way to get rid of a “turbulent priest” or bishop without a messy trial. It’s also a bit less bloody than Henry II’s solution.