of the Faith are not to
receive the sacrament from their dispensing.

Reply Obj. 3: Although fornication is not graver than other sins, yet
men are more prone to it, owing to fleshly concupiscence.
Consequently, this sin is specially inhibited to priests by the
Church, lest anyone hear the mass of one living in concubinage.
However, this is to be understood of one who is notorious, either
from being convicted and sentenced, or from having acknowledged his
guilt in legal form, or from it being impossible to conceal his guilt
by any subterfuge.
_______________________

TENTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 82, Art. 10]

Whether It Is Lawful for a Priest to Refrain Entirely from
Consecrating the Eucharist?

Objection 1: It seems to be lawful for a priest to refrain entirely
from consecrating the Eucharist. Because, as it is the priest's
office to consecrate the Eucharist, so it is likewise to baptize and
administer the other sacraments. But the priest is not bound to act
as a minister of the other sacraments, unless he has undertaken the
care of souls. Therefore, it seems that likewise he is not bound to
consecrate the Eucharist except he be charged with the care of souls.

Obj. 2: Further, no one is bound to do what is unlawful for him to
do; otherwise he would be in two minds. But it is not lawful for the
priest who is in a state of sin, or excommunicate, to consecrate the
Eucharist, as was said above (A. 7). Therefore it seems that such men
are not bound to celebrate, and so neither are the others; otherwise
they would be gainers by their fault.

Obj. 3: Further, the priestly dignity is not lost by subsequent
weakness: because Pope Gelasius I says (cf. Decretal, Dist. 55): "As
the canonical precepts do not permit them who are feeble in body to
approach the priesthood, so if anyone be disabled when once in that
state, he cannot lose that he received at the time he was well." But
it sometimes happens that those who are already ordained as priests
incur defects whereby they are hindered from celebrating, such as
leprosy or epilepsy, or the like. Consequently, it does not appear
that priests are bound to celebrate.

_On the contrary,_ Ambrose says in one of his Orations (xxxiii): "It
is a grave matter if we do not approach Thy altar with clean heart
and pure hands; but it is graver still if while shunning sins we also
fail to offer our sacrifice."

_I answer that,_ Some have said that a priest may lawfully refrain
altogether