"Canon law itself says for one case of guilt, a priest can be dismissed from the clerical state. One"

This quote by Roger Mahony is referring to the rules and policies of the Catholic Church, known as Canon Law. Canon Law mentions that if a priest is found guilty of a crime, they can be dismissed from the clerical state. This indicates that they will no longer have the ability to work as a priest and will be gotten rid of from the clergy. This is a major penalty and reveals that the Catholic Church takes any criminal offense devoted by a priest very seriously. The quote is also a reminder that priests are held to a higher standard and should follow the guidelines of the Church. It is a pointer that priests must be held accountable for their actions which any criminal activity committed will not be tolerated.