Explain the complexities of what happens to Hester's and Dimmesdale's plan to depart on the ship

For one thing, Dimmesdale is really sick. He looks about dead and doesn't have long to live. They are not married which is problematic to say the least. Dimmesdale is also officially still the priest of the town. I'm not too sure how Puritan contracts worked. What exactly they might do once they get to Europe is also at question. There is also that nasty Chillingworth to contend with as well.