The Inquisition would seem still to be in operation with the excommunication of Melbourne priest, Greg Reynolds. Father Reynolds was defrocked (laicised) and even excommunicated for his support of women priests in the Catholic church and also his support likewise for gay people.
Earlier in 2011 when he resigned as a Melbourne priest he was left penniless and was later offered $5,000 as a payout for his 32 years of service, though he says the usual figure is about $1,500 per year of service – in his case, $48,000.
His resignation however was not sufficient and when he continued to advocate these positions the Vatican moved. I say the Vatican because the order has come straight from HQ and not through the Melbourne Archbishop Hart.
According to church teaching, excommunication is the strongest sanction and means one can not hold any office or receive any sacraments. Being laicised means one is no longer a priest. By traditional Catholic doctrine Greg is cut off from the means of grace and therefore a candidate for eternal damnation.
All this for merely believing as his conscience demanded that both women and gay people should have a place of equality in the church!
Greg believes he is the first person ever excommunicated in Melbourne. The only other priests laicised in Melbourne against their will have been notorious paedophiles.
Father Reynolds is not the first Australian Catholic to be excommunicated. The best known was Sister Mary MacKillop now sainted.
Earlier in 2011 when he resigned as a Melbourne priest he was left penniless and was later offered $5,000 as a payout for his 32 years of service, though he says the usual figure is about $1,500 per year of service – in his case, $48,000.
His resignation however was not sufficient and when he continued to advocate these positions the Vatican moved. I say the Vatican because the order has come straight from HQ and not through the Melbourne Archbishop Hart.
According to church teaching, excommunication is the strongest sanction and means one can not hold any office or receive any sacraments. Being laicised means one is no longer a priest. By traditional Catholic doctrine Greg is cut off from the means of grace and therefore a candidate for eternal damnation.
All this for merely believing as his conscience demanded that both women and gay people should have a place of equality in the church!
Greg believes he is the first person ever excommunicated in Melbourne. The only other priests laicised in Melbourne against their will have been notorious paedophiles.
Father Reynolds is not the first Australian Catholic to be excommunicated. The best known was Sister Mary MacKillop now sainted.