It is well established that when anything has once been dedicated to God, it cannot hereafter be devoted to some other purpose; and this rule not only ought to be observed with reference to gifts, but it is also applicable to men who have been consecrated to divine service by means of the ecclesiastical order; and still more when they have fallen from virtue, and sin has induced them to abandon the calling which they adopted for the purpose of living an honorable life. Hence as We do not approve the ancient rule by which former legislation permitted a priest, deacon, or subdeacon, who married, to renounce the ecclesiastical habit, and return to profane life, We hereby repeal this law, and decree that members of the priesthood shall be liable to no other penalty than to be dismissed from the office which they had obtained before being married; and that they shall retain the clerical habit, and be authorized to discharge all the religious duties which they are not forbidden to exercise.