Retraction!

Previously, Rav Engel asserted that אכילת תרומה is not אכילת הדיוט regular eating but has the status similar to אכילת קדשים of משלחן גבוה קזכי [see what we wrote at length]. However, Rav Engel continues that his suggestion is not tenable because תרומה is completely his for all purposes and he may marry a woman with it [unlike kodshim], he may purchase land and animals with it etc. which proves that it is absolutely his and not Divine property.

There is actually an explicit gemara which bears this out. The gemara in Yevamos [87a] says that a Kohenes who returns to her fathers house after her husband dies, is allowed once again to eat תרומה but not חזה ושוק. Rav Papa explains based on the pasuk מלחם אביה תאכל on which the gemara expounds לחם הקנוי לאביה פרט לחזה ושוק דכהנים משלחן גבוה קזכי. OH BOY! That is awfully clear that תרומה belongs to the כהן personally unlike the חזה ושוק that he receives as קדשים.

Lots more to say. Hope we say it...