A Bishop who has been excommunicated gave “illegitimate help” and concelebrated the Eucharist at a new bishop’s ordination last week. Lei Shiyin, the Chinese- government-backed bishop of Leshan in Sichuan province, was ordained in China in June 2011 without Rome’s blessing. He was excommunicated for this. The Vatican is concerned Lei’s role in last week’s Read more
Posts Tagged ‘excommunication’
Bishop helps with ordination, concelebrates mass despite being excommunicated
Tuesday, December 6th, 2016Sect based on child Jesus apparitions guilty of schism
Friday, June 10th, 2016
An Italian sect that arose after alleged apparitions of the child Jesus has been found guilty of schism and has incurred an automatic excommunication. The Diocese of Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo made the announcement on June 5 concerning the self-styled Universal Christian Church of the New Testament. This followed an examination by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Read more
Women priest posters put up near St Peter’s Square
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016
Dozens of posters of illicit women priests were plastered in Rome near St Peter’s Square last week in a provocative campaign. Above the image of one of the women priests were the words “some women disobey”. The putting up of the posters in Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood and near St Peter’s was part of a “jubilee Read more
Prelate suggests excommunication for strident Pope critics
Friday, December 11th, 2015A prelate has suggested that strident criticism of Pope Francis might be grounds for excommunication under canon law. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation, suggested such criticism could be seen as akin to “physical violence” against the Roman Pontiff. This carries a penalty of excommunication. But US canon lawyer Read more
Pope stresses divorced and remarried not excommunicated
Friday, August 7th, 2015
Pope Francis has said divorced and civilly remarried Catholics are not excommunicated and must not be treated as if they were. At his general audience on August 5, the Pope said such people are “still part of the Church”, even though “their unions are contrary to the sacrament of marriage”. “As these situations especially affect Read more
New generation of traditionalist bishops looms to defy Rome
Friday, April 10th, 2015
Two excommunicated traditionalist bishops plan to consecrate a new generation of bishops to spread their movement which is dubbed “The Resistance”. According to Reuters, French Bishop Jean-Michel Faure said the new group rejected Pope Francis and what it called his “new religion”. Bishop Faure and Holocaust-denying Bishop Richard Williamson both incurred automatic excommunications last month Read more
Former SSPX bishop to ordain a bishop without Rome’s OK
Thursday, March 19th, 2015
Former Society of St Pius X Bishop Richard Williamson will reportedly consecrate a bishop without the approval of Rome. The Rorate Caeli blog reported the planned consecration this month of Fr Jean-Michel Faure at the monastery of Santa Cruz in Nova Friburgo in Brazil. March 19 is the likely date. Bishop Williamson was one of four Read more
Shroud of Turin opportunity for abortion reconciliation
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015
While the Shroud of Turin is displayed later this year, local priests have been given faculties to reconcile women who confess to having had an abortion. The goal of the special faculties granted by Turin’s Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia is to ensure that the public display of the shroud promotes conversion and healing. The shroud, which Read more
Catholic woman bishop in liturgies alongside male priests
Friday, November 7th, 2014An excommunicated Catholic woman bishop says she has conducted services alongside male Catholic priests without any problems from the Church’s hierarchy. Austrian Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, 58, told The Telegraph: “Most Catholic priests in Austria, are very nice to me. They call me ‘Mrs Bishop’. And they show me respect.” The newspaper reported her having been at Read more
Bishop warns of excommunication for going to SSPX Masses
Friday, November 7th, 2014An Italian bishop has warned that Catholics who go to Mass at chapels staffed by the traditionalist Society of St Pius X incur excommunication. Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano diocese said SSPX bishops and priests are suspended from priestly ministry. When the faithful receive the sacraments from them, “they break communion with the Catholic Church”. Read more