4,042. A Kohein Who Served an Idol

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 9:12

If a non-kohein performs the Temple service on Shabbos, he is liable both for desecrating Shabbos and for serving as a non-kohein. Similarly, if a kohein with a disqualifying blemish serves in a state of ritually uncleanliness, he is liable both for serving while ritually unclean and for serving with a blemish.

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 9:13

If a kohein served an idol, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he may never serve in the Temple, even if he repents completely. This is derived from Ezekiel 44:13: “They shall not draw near to Me, to serve Me.” This is the case regardless of whether a kohein served the idol in its form of worship, such as by acting as a priest of the idol, or whether he bowed down it, or merely accepted it as divine; in all of these cases, he is permanently disqualified. If a kohein in this situation violated the law and performed the Temple service, his sacrifice is not pleasing to God, even if he acted unwittingly when he served, bowed to or accepted that idol. However, if one inadvertently slaughtered an animal for an idol and he then violated the law by bringing an offering in the Temple, the sacrifice is pleasing to God and is accepted. This is because the kohein didn’t serve the idol or become its priest, he only slaughtered an animal for it, and that was done by accident. Nevertheless, it is preferable that such a kohein not perform the Temple service.