Priests serving in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse who are 80 or older have been told they must step down.
Some 13 priests have been given notice by Bishop Robert Cunningham, who is enforcing a new policy that prohibits priests from handling day-to-day parish duties once they enter their ninth decade, The Post-Standard reports.
But that doesn't mean the diocese, which consists of 237,000 parishioners in 128 parishes, is putting the older priests out to pasture, according to Danielle Cummings, chancellor of the seven-county jurisdiction.
She told the newspaper they can still perform sacramental duties, including performing Mass when another priest is away or anointing the sick.
Cummings said the new directive was sparked by recommendations by two committees of priests, the Presbyteral Council and The College of Consultors.
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