Is Vice Council Dupont a Cleric?

[MistressOfLibria]

Hello all,

A few Days ago my Boyfriend refered to the "Voice of Father" as being a Cleric. I dont think he is a Cleric or at least not any longer. I guess he was once a Cleric but due to his Rank now he is no longer one. What do you all think to this? Is he still a Cleric or is he over this?

Greets
Mistress

[Mirabilis]

I would consider Dupont to be a former Cleric because of his Gun-Kata skills and the fact that he still teaches those skills in the Monastery. But he is no longer considered an actual Cleric due to his position as Vice-Council.

[Aedh]

With respect, I differ. I consider the mark of a Cleric to be indelible in character. Once you are one, you never stop until death, and possibly not even then.

[Lightfighter]

I have to agree with the statement that he was once a Cleric in the same capacity as Preston and his fellows, but no longer operates in that capacity. He would be filling the same function as say, a police chief or commissioner. He still has had all the training and possesses the skills, but he fills more of an administrative position. Hence, we see him instructing students in the Monastery in the ways of the Gun Kata.

[Aedh]

Let me expand on my thought above: it is true he longer operates as a duty Cleric in the same way as Preston or Brandt. But he is Cleric. Think of someone who's a street cop or a combat soldier. You may go off-duty or retire, you may flout the rules or even turn against them, but you cannot change the fact that you underwent training and education that gave you instincts, that formed you in a certain way. It is like trying to unbreak a broken glass. That's my own reasoning anyway.