defrocked
Removed from ministry
Defrocked means stripped of priestly or clerical status, usually as punishment for misconduct: The defrocked priest was convicted of abuse.
The word extends to anyone formally removed from a position of authority or professional standing: a defrocked lawyer, a defrocked professor.
The underlying image is of ceremonially removing the vestments of office.
Formal barring from sacraments
- unfrockedDismissed from priesthood
- priesthoodOrdained religious office
- disrobingRemoving one's garments
- secularizationReligion losing social significance
clergy · ordination · vestments · canonical · ecclesiastic · diocese · bishop · Vatican
Had coverings removed
- dismissedReleased from duty
- expelledOfficially removed or banished
- oustedRemoved from position
- deposedRemoved from authority
discharged · disqualified · suspended · barred · banished · revoked · terminated · invalidated
Painful awareness of failure
- dishonorLoss of respect
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- fallenHaving dropped down
- disgracedBrought into shame
stigma · infamy · outcast · pariah · shunned · ruined · tarnished · discredited
Disgraceful public affair
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- allegationsUnproven formal claims
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- investigationFormal examination of facts
whistleblower · testimony · accusation · violation · impropriety · breach · complaint · victim
excommunication
Formal barring from sacraments
- unfrockedDismissed from priesthood
- priesthoodOrdained religious office
- disrobingRemoving one's garments
secularization · clergy · ordination · vestments · canonical · ecclesiastic · diocese · bishop · Vatican · seminary
stripped
Had coverings removed
deposed · discharged · disqualified · suspended · barred · banished · revoked · terminated · invalidated · renounced
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- dishonorLoss of respect
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- fallenHaving dropped down
disgraced · stigma · infamy · outcast · pariah · shunned · ruined · tarnished · discredited · ostracized
scandal
Disgraceful public affair
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- allegationsUnproven formal claims
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
investigation · whistleblower · testimony · accusation · violation · impropriety · breach · complaint · victim · inquiry
defrockedordained
Officially appointed to ministry
consecrated · invested · restored · reinstated · installed
defrockedexonerated
Cleared of wrongdoing
vindicated · promoted · honored · unpunished · cleared
- defrocked priestFormer clergy, officially dismissed