Pope Francis has sent a letter to a dissident priest Greg Reynolds announcing his excommunication from the Church over his public support of women priests and gay marriage, according to the Te Deum blog.
So on the same day that the media was doing cartwheels that Pope Francis was throwing out every rule in the Church, he was also informing Reynolds of his excommunication. Now, I wonder how soon until the media starts calling him something like “the wolf in sheep’s clothing” or some such idiocy.
The Age reports:
The order comes direct from the Vatican, not at the request of Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, and apparently follows a secret denunciation in the best traditions of the inquisition, according to Father Reynolds.
The excommunication document – written in Latin and giving no reason – was dated May 31, meaning it comes under the authority of Pope Francis who made headlines on Thursday calling for a less rule-obsessed church.
Father Reynolds, who resigned as a parish priest in 2011 and last year founded Inclusive Catholics, said he had expected to be laicised (defrocked), but not excommunicated. But it would make no difference to his ministry.
”In times past excommunication was a huge thing, but today the hierarchy have lost such trust and respect,” he said.
”I’ve come to this position because I’ve followed my conscience on women’s ordination and gay marriage.”
Prayers for Greg Reynolds. Sometimes something like this is exactly what someone needs to wake them up.
September 24, 2013 at 12:17 am
It's not about The Church Jesus established. The Holy Spirit that guides her. It's really about all of us deciding for ourselves where Christ and the Holy Spirit went wrong. After all we know better. And who better to help us create a church in our own image than….uh, oh. I think they're getting the wrong advocate.
September 24, 2013 at 1:41 am
That's funny. 🙂
September 24, 2013 at 2:08 am
This is where you say "nevermind", Emily.
September 24, 2013 at 2:55 am
The Catholic Church IS following the rules. Reynolds self-excommunicated himself when he embraced women priests who are without a vocation from God and gay marriage without the consummated marital act.
September 24, 2013 at 10:46 am
According to the article, he wasn't excommunicated because of his support of women priests or same-sex marriage…….."Archbishop Hart said Father Reynolds was excommunicated because after his priestly faculties were withdrawn he continued to celebrate the Eucharist publicly and preach contrary to the teachings of the church."
September 24, 2013 at 1:30 pm
The excommunication document – written in Latin and giving no reason – was dated May 31,
September 24, 2013 at 4:17 pm
This excommunication is didly-squat. This guy is a nobody. When is the Pope going to deal with the major offenders like the bishops who promoted and protected queers in the priesthood?
September 24, 2013 at 7:51 pm
No one ever expected the Argentine Inquisition!
September 24, 2013 at 11:33 pm
This is big because of two reasons. It is his first act of excommunication under Francis because the Pope Emeritus did not do this in his papacy. The last known act done was John Paul II and the head of the SSPX. As for the priest himself he preached on women priests and same sex marriage as it was reported in the Australian newspaper. Just a few days ago he finally spoke out publicly against abortion. The secular press most be taken aback,