Are priests who have committed major misdemeanours still “de-frocked”, or is just the bishop’s licence withdrawn?

Your answer: The penalty of deposition from Holy Orders, unfrocking or defrocking, was abolished by the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003. I am told by one of those responsible for the change that they were particularly influenced by cases of clergy who had been deposed, and their ministry permanently terminated, after what would not now be such serious matters, including one who had been deposed by Cosmo Gordon Lang for getting into debt through naïve understanding of hire-purchase. The most serious penalty available to the tribunals is now prohibition for life. As that leaves the basic status as clergy intact, however, IICSA and others (including me, Comment, 19 August 2016) have argued that the penalty of deposition needs to be revived.

(The Revd) Neil Patterson
Hereford

Your question: Why, in his extant letters, did St Paul evince so little interest in the ministry, teaching, and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth?

J. M.
 

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