Pontiff Pulls Plug On Priest In Oz
The Pope has just seriously disappointed some of the secularists who think he is secretly one of them: Michael Walsh
Lest you think the Pope is a closet Lefty:
An Australian priest who supports the ordination of women has been excommunicated by Pope Francis.
In the first such excommunication since the new pontiff took office, Fr Greg Reynolds was dismissed from the clerical state. In a letter from the Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart, which stated that “the decision by Pope Francis to dismiss Fr Reynolds from the clerical state and to declare his automatic excommunication has been made because of his public teaching on the ordination of women contrary to the teaching of the Church and his public celebration of the Eucharist when he did not hold faculties to act publicly as a priest.”
Archbishop Hart also told other priests in the archdiocese by letter that Fr Reynolds’s excommunication was “because of his public teaching on the ordination of women”, which are grounds for automatic excommunication. Fr Reynolds is also a supporter of same-sex marriage and has attended rallies in favour of changing the definition of marriage. He has even reportedly presided at same-sex ceremonies.It remains to be seen whether the first Jesuit pope will issue an encyclical about alleged “climate change,” as my friend Dennis Prager thinks he will. But no doubt the Pope has just seriously disappointed some of the secularists who think he is secretly one of them.
13 comments:
No, he has just seriously confused the faithful who have reached the point of exasperation with a pontificate that is short on substance, big on innovative language and consistently inconsistent.
I can understand a clergyman struggling privately with doubt over some point or other of doctrine, but how can anyone respect a member of the clergy who publicly espouses heresy? Pope Francis did the right thing, but this is no victory for anyone--faithful Catholics included--but only sadness for a soul lost to the demonic Father of Lies. This poor priest will burn in Hell unless he converts, and for this conversion we should all pray.
Exhausted,
Pope Francis has consistently said that he supports Church teachings on faith and morals. He will not change these. He also says he is open to considering innovative ways to introduce heretics, adulterers and sodomites to the mercy of God. Granted, these open discussions can lead to conflict and confusion, but if the end product saves souls, then it's worth it.
This story is from September 2013 - back then I was not half as anxious as I am now - post-Synod.
Hmmm. This story is from late 2013. I wonder why it seems to have been resurrected in the last week?
JBS and the others,
If Pope Francis tried to change Church dogma, he cannot. If he disagrees with dogma, that's all he can do: disagree. That's up for Pope Francis to sort out for himself.
That deceitful, false "ordination" of a religious sister in Kansas City by a "bishop" did nothing but create scandal. Even if the stewards of Christ's Church did not "repudiate" such an abomination, nothing happened. She is not a priest no matter what anyone thinks or says.
At the heart of this debate is an underlying perception by many that if the people complain and fuss enough for long enough that dogma can be changed.
I don't think the public at large or even many of the Catholic lay understand the difference between "Christ's Church" and "the stewards of Christ Church". They seem to think that only "the stewards" exist so if something appears "wrong" or "not with the times", they can go pound on the stewards until they relent (still futile, nothing happens). So that makes me an "unwelcoming bigot"?
In effect, they're denying the existence of Christ and His teachings.
Indeed this is from 2013...and very old...perhaps this is another case of "damage control" from the synod.
As I've said before, the worry about Pope Francis is not the change in doctrine, he has zero power to do this (and if he did, I would hope the Cardinals would have enough fortitude to say enough, and declare him publicly at odds)...but rather that he'll ignore dogma (well, as a lot of Bishops have been dong anyway) and praxis and the attitude will extend to the entire Church.
I also agree with Fr JBS that we should not be rejoicing over this. A soul that could possibly be lost is not something to be happy over.
Practical atheism is not found in declarations that God does not exist but in practical habits of life that posit the non-existence of God (and heaven, and hell...)
I suspect lots of politicians (both side) mouth the platitudes of Christianity when it suits them in elections but don't believe the doctrine - they certainly don't act as though they are disciples of Christ. If Christianity is an ethnicity then, sure, they're "Christian".
So the distinguishing method to discover if one is a true believer or not has to be an analysis of one's enduring public habits, actions, statements.
If you invariably water down, downplay, soft peddle the faith, the Gospel, the holiness of God and the Church.... one can reasonably guess or judge your inner commitment to be at least confused if not weak or nonexistent.
What outrages people is what is closest to their hearts. If people get really incensed about abuse of pets but are "meh" when the topic is abortion, they are telling you that animals (things, possessions) are more important to them than fellow human beings, persons.
If people only get angry with 'fat cats' when they're Republicans (the 'evil Koch' brothers) but are silent about other far richer folk (the majority of billionaires are registered Democrats), it tells you they don't care about the money, they just hate Republicans.
Find what makes people blow a gasket and you'll find what they value above all else.
Paul,
"Dogma" is a more restrictive term than "teachings". There are some official teachings that are derived from dogma, but which are more prudential than dogmatic in nature.
It is a bit odd. Perhaps the excommunication goes back to 2013 and the laicization is new? It takes a while for a laicization to be finalized.
Father MacDonald,
At any rate, it has been done and it has not been undone.
JBS,Paul
There is much in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that has not been dogmatically or doctrinally defined. That doesn't mean a Catholic can leaf through the Cathechism and find something that is contrary to the Deposit of Faith, to Scripture and Tradition, because it is from these that official teaching is promulgated. The Church does not teach error or give ecclesial approval to any teaching which contains error.
Jusadbellum, very nicely stated. Great post.
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