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It seems as though this priest had resigned first, in 2011.
This is still strange, coming from a Pope who just stated that Catholics should not be so hung up on abortion, gays, etc.
His 32 years of official priesthood behind him, Reynolds began operating an informal church in Melbourne in 2012. Called the Inclusive Catholics, the organization accepts homosexuality and allows women to help lead services.
I'm just guessing but I would assume his excommunication is more in line with the fact that he resigned as a priest and operated and informal church using the "Catholic" name and probably offering communion. That's a BIG no no.
I'm pleased to hear this, that Pope Francis has led, and struck like an NCO. Though, this action came late. In the Marine Corps we would have shut him down the same day of operation. Had he been Snowden the U.S. Government would be trying to get other governments to arrest him, hand him over to them, and then the U.S. Government would have launched a major inquiry (that's what Inquisition means), interrogate him, tried him, and sentenced him to be caged for the rest of his life or put to death.
Though the Vatican operated slowly tolerating treason for years, tolerating what no CBS, ABC, or NBC corporate organization would for 1 single day among its news anchors, the slow Vatican finally moved to make a judicial decision. About time.
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I'm just guessing but I would assume his excommunication is more in line with the fact that he resigned as a priest and operated and informal church using the "Catholic" name and probably offering communion. That's a BIG no no.
/\ /\ This +5
Also, the Pope is hoping/saying that people will be less judgmental of homosexuals - he is NOT advocating permitting Gay Marriage. Canon Code prohibits that. He won't go that far. But to stop excluding them, preaching against them, etc. There's a vast difference between his desire for the Church to be more inclusive of gays and that of allowing gay marriage in a Catholic Church.
I'm not Catholic, but honestly I have no problem with this move. We're not in the middle ages and excommunications is not a virtual death sentence. These days (and in this case) it is simply the RCC keeping thing straight. If they teach that homosexuality is "an abomination before God" and an extremely heinous sin, then they have to remain consistent. If they're going to stick with a male-only priesthood with no exceptions then they have to remain consistent with that too. If some of their priest adamantly refuse to stand with them, then how on earth are they Catholic priests?
Truth is, I think that the RCC is in danger fragmenting from within. It is becoming more and more difficult define what a Catholic is anymore with so many voicing directly contradicting the Pope and higher ups on so many things. Things like abortion, homosexuality, extra-marital sex of all varieties, etc. They allow for and tolerate so many divergent voices, it confuses their overall message. This is step in the right direction towards unity.
I'm pleased to hear this, that Pope Francis has led, and struck like an NCO. Though, this action came late. In the Marine Corps we would have shut him down the same day of operation. Had he been Snowden the U.S. Government would be trying to get other governments to arrest him, hand him over to them, and then the U.S. Government would have launched a major inquiry (that's what Inquisition means), interrogate him, tried him, and sentenced him to be caged for the rest of his life or put to death.
Though the Vatican operated slowly tolerating treason for years, tolerating what no CBS, ABC, or NBC corporate organization would for 1 single day among its news anchors, the slow Vatican finally moved to make a judicial decision. About time.
Maybe God did send Pope Francis.
I think the excommunicated priest can now open a Protestant church.
Cannot this priest use 'Inclusive Catholics' as his church name?
There are different sorts of 'catholic', are there not?
This priest gave his resignation several years ago, and was not excommunicated until recently.
Priests evidently do disagree with some of the church's teachings, but just do not make an outward, public, pronouncement over such things. How long were pedophiles sheltered by the church? And it was only when such things made the news that the church decided to react, and even then initially, it attempted to divert the accusations from pedophilia to homosexuality. I think this man was excommunicated, not because of his beliefs, but because he openly and honestly stated his truth.
I respectfully disagree with most of the posters. With regards to all that has been written regarding what he said in an interview and other comments he is quoted as saying this and that. Much has been taken out of context, some important words left out. He was not speaking the peope in the USA specifically. Other countries have very different issues than we in the US do.
The Pope is Catholic! He will uphold the teaching of the Catholic Church just as every other pope has. If he said to stop talking about gays, abortion, etc., etc., why don't you stop yammering about it all the time if you think what he said is so great and significant.
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