Could a nun leave the convent?

Answer 1

A nun, strictly speaking, once she has professed perpetual vows, is always a nun. For grave reasons (either on her part, or on the part of the community or order to which she belongs) she can be dispensed from a number of obligations, such as living in the monastery and wearing the habit. She will, however, still be bound by the vows and is therefore not free to marry validly in the Catholic church. Additionally, she must remain under the care of her bishop. The term "ex nun" does not mean "former nun," as most mistakenly believe. It is the shortening of the term "exclaustrated nun," which technically means that she is no longer in her cloister. Once a nun, always a nun. We have to keep in mind that the term "nun" is often misused and confused with the term "sister." The latter group is also comprised of women religious, many of whom wear a distinctive garb ("habit") and mistaken for nuns. Sisters do not live in cloisters (monasteries) rather, they live in convents which are out in the world. Most orders of teachers, nurses, missionaries, or social workers are not nuns, they are sisters. Mother Teresa was a sister, not a nun. She lived and worked in the world, among the people. Nuns are supposed to be separated from the world, only venturing as far as the convent parlor (with permission) and receiving visitors, including her own family, while separated from them by a grille. There has been no small amount of controversy over media sensation Mother Angelica, precisely because she IS a nun, and has disregarded the papal regulations of the cloister. This has caused no small division among clergy in the church, as some are avid supporters of her media ministry, and others approve of her ministry but not in the disobedient way in which she carried it out. Had Mother Angelica been a sister, there would not have been any violation of the rules of cloister, to which sisters are not bound. The difference lies in the classification of the vows. Both groups profess vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience (or the equivalent) yet nuns profess these vows in a solemn, indissoluble manner. Sisters profess these vows, yet they are classified as "simple" (as opposed to "solemn") as they can be dissolved by the proper authority. The former sister is then free to marry, should she choose to do so, and free of the obligations of poverty and obedience. You may hear someone say that they know of an ex-nun who married and is still very active in the church. This is more than likely a former sister, and not a nun. Part of the confusion is because all nuns are sisters, but not all sisters are nuns. One is a subset of the other. All members of the army can rightly be called soldiers, but not all soldiers belong to the army. Some are navy, air force, marines, or national guards. There are several forms of women religious, and many refer to themselves as sisters. Some examples are nuns, sisters, consecrated women, virgins, and members of secular institutes.

Answer 2

Catholic AnswerUp until they make their simple vows, they may leave at any time, after simple vows, they may leave at the end of the period of that vow, after they make solemn vows, or lifelong profession, then, no, only with special permission from the Vatican.

Answer

Anybody can leave any organization anytime they want. Some like drug cartels and the military can make it very unpleasant for those who have become ex-employees on their own. Others, like churches. can only try to impose moral suasion (A persuasion tactic used by an authority to influence and pressure, but not force.)