follow up to fornication with priests QUESTION from Mary on November 16, 2002 Thank you for your enlightening answer to my previous question. To further expand on it, I have to ask what the responsibility of the priest is in such a situation. I assume his soul is in deep trouble, but is he committing a sacrilege also?
ANSWER by Mr. Joe Meineke on November 20, 2002 Dear Mary,
The priest will be held accountable to a higher degree than someone who is not a priest. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48). To what degree is not for us to know; God knows. In light of these facts, it is worthwhile that I remind all of us: Please remember to pray for our priests.
The priest is also guilty of sacrilege. Here is why: Sacrilege is defined as Desecration, profanation, misuse, or theft of something sacred. The priestly office is certainly sacred, set apart for God's use. The priest who commits fornication commits a sacrilege against his own office - a form of self-desecration. In addition, the very act of fornication desecrates and profanes the sacred office of priesthood by virtue of the sinful act. It is a misuse of his body for mere sensual pleasure and it is theft of the life giving grace of God that removes him from the state of grace and places his soul in danger of eternal damnation:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9-10, emphasis mine).
God bless you, Joe Meineke Assistant to Bro. Ignatius

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