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
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
An 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
An 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
The Louisiana Supreme Court in the southern United States has issued a decision that may require a priest to violate the secrecy of confession. The case involves the possible confession of a 12-year-old, who was allegedly abused by a parishioner in 2008. The complainant said she told the priest in three separate confessions of her Read more
Pope Francis used the e-word against the mob for the first time this weekend. The Holy Father was celebrating mass on Saturday in Calabria, a mob-heavy region in southern Italy, when he deviated from his prepared remarks and announced that the mafia are excommunicated. “Those who go down the evil path, as the Mafiosi do, are Read more
A young Vietnamese priest has been excommunicated after accusations he taught false beliefs against the Catholic faith. Fr Peter Nguyen Van Tuong was excommunicated “latae sententiae”, the apostolic administrator of Vinh Long diocese announced. Administrator Fr Peter Duong Van Thanh accused Fr Tuong of “preaching false beliefs against the Catholic Church doctrine” and “being too Read more
Pope Francis has told the Italian mafia that they are excommunicated and an example of the adoration of evil. It is believed to be the first time a pope has used the word excommunication in direct reference to organised crime groups. “Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not Read more
The head of the international pro-reform We Are Church movement has been excommunicated by the Vatican. Austrian Martha Heizer and her husband Gert suffered this penalty for regularly “simulating the Mass” without a priest present. According to a statement from Innsbruck diocese, the pair publicised this practice, which forced Bishop Manfred Scheuer to take legal Read more
The Vatican has ordered the excommunication of Catholic priest Greg Reynolds over his support for women priests and gays. The Australian news site The Age reported that the excommunication document – written in Latin – was dated May 31. Reynolds, who resigned as a parish priest in 2011 and last year founded Inclusive Catholics, said Read more