When do priests retire

Notification of the refusal was received by text message. In the same diocese another man aged 68, with over 40 years service, because of medical issues and on medical advice, applied to retire. He felt that he was no longer able to meet the demands that were being made of him in parish ministry.

Again permission to retire was denied. In fairness it has to be said that not all bishops or dioceses act in the same way. I know a number of men who have taken early retirement for health reasons and receive the same retirement benefits as all others in their diocese. The problem is that there is no consistency, that each bishop can act as he sees fit, with the result that priests have no certainty about their retirement.

Priests have no rights in this matter and depend on the goodwill, or even the whims, of individual bishops. This is not just an Irish problem. According to a researcher at Florida Atlantic University, Catholic priests in the United States are in a similar predicament. Michael Kane, Ph. To do otherwise may be perceived as self-indulgent or selfish.

The result of such expectations is that many are made feel guilty if they wish to retire after long years of service, even if their health is declining. The implication is that the needs of the diocese, in terms of numbers of priests to place in parishes, outweighs the needs of an individual priest. Indeed it outweighs the need of parishioners for an adequate service from priests who are mentally and physically able to deliver such service.

We are all aware of sad stories of men who have remained in parishes long after retirement age, with the best of intentions, only to end up being unable to function or minister in any meaningful way.

A priest serving in an Irish diocese who on reaching the age of 67 decided that he had given all that he could in parish ministry. Thankfully he is in good health. He applied to his bishop to retire but was left in no doubt that he would receive no financial support despite having served over 40 years.

This man was fortunate in that his original family home was available to him to live in. He now survives on the State Contributory Pension and by doing occasional supply in some parishes. He says that even if the diocese made the gesture of paying for medical insurance it would be a great relief. It is hard to comprehend the decision making process of a bishop who concludes that this treatment is justified, appropriate or acceptable towards a man who served for over 40 years.

We know that different dioceses have different ways of regulating the salaries of priests. The same applies concerning payments and benefits to retired priests. One issue that some priests raise is whether a diocese has the right to take private income, including the State Contributory Pension, The Old Age Pension into account when deciding rates of payment for retired priests.

Some dioceses do in fact take the State Contributory Pension into account and include it as part of the overall figure available to a retired priest, thereby reducing the payment made by the diocese. The state contributory pension is seen as part of the overall retirement package. Some companies also operate similar schemes. The big difference is that these are employers providing pension schemes for employees and as employers they have already contributed an amount equal to between 8.

It has to raise the question, has a diocese then a right to include the State Contributory Pension as part of their obligation to support a priest in retirement when in fact they have not contributed in any way towards it. Another issue arises from this that could lead us off on a tangent, but needs to be considered at some stage. Likewise John A.

A qualitative study of clerical identity, obedience and celibacy. The issue of identity is a huge one for us and is linked of course to the clerical culture that has become attached to priesthood; a culture that promotes priests as being different, not only in life and death but also when it comes to retirement.

The hope today is that we can start a debate that will lead to proper provision being made for priests to retire. We can start by checking that each diocese is at least fulfilling the decree laid down by the episcopal conference. With the growing and never ending bureaucracy being heaped upon us on an almost daily basis the age of Fifty, as laid down by the Book of Numbers, has a certain appeal, but realistically might be just a little too early. However to start the debate I would seriously suggest that when we reach the qualifying age for the state contributory pension we should have the option to retire.

That age is currently 66, it will increase to 67 for those born in , and to 68 for those born in and after. If a priest decides to continue in parish ministry after that age I suggest that he would have to retire from all administrative roles in parish and continue solely in a pastoral and sacramental ministry.

If we are truly serious about empowering the laity of the church, and dismantling the clerical power structure, we should at any rate be moving towards the situation where the lay members of parishes would fulfil all administrative roles. By having a definite date when it has to happen in a parish would allow for adequate planning and a period of transition.

Archdiocesan policies regarding priestly retirement are oriented not as a means of transitioning away from ministry, but rather facilitate continuing service by and for priests in their later years, considering their needs and those of the Church. The faithful throughout the Archdiocese benefit greatly from the presence and service of senior priests, especially from the wisdom of their experience.

To maximize flexibility and to provide for their needs, provisions are made for senior priests in the Detroit Archdiocese who meet the criteria for retirement benefits:. Back to home. Becoming Catholic. Catholic Schools. Christian Worship. Cultural Ministries. It would be good if they could organize a kind of club to unite them in prayer, sport, excursions, or pilgrimages to the Holy Land or other sanctuaries.

It was a great undertaking for the Archdiocese of Vancouver to build the St. Perhaps the first steps could be taken to create such an association, because it is very sad to see that retired priests are either not invited for study weeks or, worse still, asked to pay.

A first measure would be to allow them and permanent deacons to pay half price to assist at the annual retreat. Another initiative would be to have a Retired Priests Day with a special collection for these deserving men of God. Pope Francis prepares for Canadian journey of reconciliation. Lewis, Tolkien, and Chesterton in a personally significant faith journey. Catholic video series picks up where religious education left off.

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