How Does a Priest Leave the Priesthood?

A priest's inner "priestliness" can never change, but he can resign from the function of being a priest and be released from his duties. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, one of which is to simply walk away.

How does a Catholic priest resign?

In the Catholic Church, a bishop, priest, or deacon may be dismissed from the clerical state as a penalty for certain grave offences, or by a papal decree granted for grave reasons. ... A Catholic cleric may voluntarily request to be removed from the clerical state for a grave, personal reason.

Can a priest lose his priesthood?

A dismissal from the priesthood is permanent — something that can't even be said of excommunication. Even priests who request laicization are told to move away and, unless necessary, to keep quiet about what happened to avoid scandalizing other Catholics.