MELBOURNE — Hard on the heels of Pope Francis’ much publicized recent interview where he stated that “… the church has the right to express its opinions but not to ‘interfere spiritually’ in the lives of gays and lesbians,” comes news from Australia that the Vatican has defrocked and excommunicated a priest in Melbourne over his support of women and gays.
Australia’s The Age reports that Father Greg 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.
The excommunication document – written in Latin and giving no reason – came direct from the Vatican and was dated May 31, therefore coming under the authority of Pope Francis.
”In times past excommunication was a huge thing, but today the hierarchy have lost such trust and respect,” Reynolds said. ”I’ve come to this position because I’ve followed my conscience on women’s ordination and gay marriage.”
The Age reported that Father Reynolds said he was called to meet the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, John Salvano, a canon lawyer, to ”discuss some issues” on Wednesday morning.
When he arrived, Father Salvano translated the document for him.
”He told me that Denis Hart (the Archbishop of Melbourne) did not apply for me to be laicised, but someone else unknown has gone over his head and contacted the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [formerly the Inquisition].
”The Vatican never contacted me, and it gives no explanation.”
