The church courts had characteristically punished with spiritual penalties of a fine or a penance, and at most defrocking.
Leo excommunicated him and defrocked him in absentia.
There has been much discussion about priests being defrocked and laicised and other such issues.
They can, if they have been defrocked.
The churches were shut down and priests were captured and defrocked while expelled and scorned by the police authorities.
Some priests resigned, others were defrocked and jailed, and there were financial settlements with many victims.
Many of the accused priests were forced to resign or were defrocked.
Some priests resigned, others were defrocked and jailed and financial settlements were agreed with many victims.
