When one hears that a priest has been “suspended a divinis”, many straightaway imagine some harsh punishment or an ecclesiastical “dismissal.” In reality, the situation is more nuanced. A suspension is a measure by which the Church prohibits a priest from exercising, fully or partially, the faculties tied to his ministry. It means the man remains a priest—ordination is indelible—but he is barred from celebrating sacraments or performing other priestly acts.
In simple terms: the priest “remains a priest,” but loses the permission to exercise the priesthood. The reasons behind such a decision vary. Canon law—the Church’s internal legal system—provides two main forms of suspension: a non-penal suspension (that is, a precautionary measure) and a penal suspension (specifically, one that follows the breach of a penal precept).
The non-penal suspension: a precautionary measure
The first type is known as a non-penal suspension. It is not a punishment but a precautionary step. It is applied when no delict (canonical offense) has yet been proven, but there are sufficient concerns to prevent the priest from acting in ways that could harm the community or himself.
A non-penal suspension serves several purposes:
to protect the faithful from potential moral or spiritual harm;
to safeguard the priest himself, preventing him from worsening his own situation;
to avoid scandal or further complications;
to ensure the validity of sacraments, for instance when there is doubt about the regularity of the ordination.
A concrete example: if a priest is accused of serious misconduct and an investigation opens, the bishop may suspend him from ministry before guilt is established—not because he’s judged guilty, but to protect everyone while the truth is clarified.
Thus, this kind of suspension arises not from a proven delict, but functions like a “temporary ban”—akin to a pre-trial precautionary order. In U.S. law, you might compare it to a form of pre-trial restraint, such as bail conditions or restrictions imposed while awaiting trial.
The penal suspension: an actual penalty
Alongside the non-penal suspension exists a suspension tied to an actual offense. Here the situation changes: this is no longer a precaution, but a canonical penalty. Canon law distinguishes between general laws (binding on all) and penal precepts—that is, specific commands directed at particular individuals, with penalties attached for disobedience.
A penal precept is essentially an order from a bishop or ecclesiastical superior, telling a priest (or any baptized person) to do or refrain from doing something, with a penalty foreseen in case of non-compliance.
For example: a bishop might order a priest not to preach publicly on a certain topic, or not to administer a sacrament for a period of time. Should the priest violate that precept, that constitutes a delict, and he can be punished with suspension. In this case, the suspension is a real penalty—imposed after guilt has been established.
Fundamental distinctions
To clarify the difference:
A non-penal suspension is not punitive. It is a precautionary measure designed to prevent harm and protect the community while things are being clarified. It is temporary and ends once the reason for it disappears.
A penal suspension, on the other hand, is a punishment: it’s applied for a proven offense—a grave breach of law or precept. Its purpose is to correct the offender, restore justice, and remedy the scandal caused.
In short: the non-penal suspension is like a “prudential restraint” decided by the bishop; the penal suspension is a judicial sentence imposed following culpability.
The pastoral purpose behind suspension
Neither form of suspension is driven by vengeance or mere punishment. The Church emphasizes that canonical penalties have three core aims:
to restore wounded justice;
to correct the offender and bring about conversion;
to repair the scandal caused.
Even a penal suspension does not mean permanent banishment of the priest—but rather offers an opportunity for conversion and possibly reintegration into the community.
Two faces of “suspension a divinis”
Thus, being suspended a divinis means that a priest is barred from performing his duties. But this can happen in two very different ways:
as a non-penal, temporary, precautionary measure—pending clarification;
as a penal, formal sanction—imposed after the commission of a canonical delict.
Understanding this distinction is key: a suspension is not the same as a definitive condemnation or a loss of clerical status. It remains a serious measure—but it can be either a protective prudence or a just penalty with a view to reconstruction.