Posted on 09/26/2007 4:03:14 PM PDT by Stoat
The Rev. J. Gaston Hebert, Little Rock diocese administrator, speaks during a news conference Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007, in Little Rock, Ark. Hebert announced Wednesday that six Arkansas nuns have been excommunicated from the Catholic Church for heresy. (AP Photo/Mike Wintroath)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Six Catholic nuns have been excommunicated for heresy after refusing to give up membership in a Canadian sect whose founder claims to be the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, the Diocese of Little Rock announced Wednesday.
The Rev. J. Gaston Hebert, the diocese administrator, said he notified the nuns of the decision Tuesday night after they refused to recant the teachings of the Community of the Lady of All Nations, also known as the Army of Mary.
The Vatican has declared all members of the Army of Mary excommunicated. Hebert said the excommunication was the first in the diocese's 165-year history.
"It is a painfully historic moment for this church," Hebert said.
The six nuns are associated with the Good Shepherd Monastery of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in Hot Springs. Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, one of the nuns excommunicated, said the nuns will still live at the convent property, which they own.
"We are at peace and we know that for us we are doing the right thing," the 82-year-old nun said. "We pray that the church will open their eyes before it is too late. This is God's work through Mary, the blessed mother, and we're doing what we're asked to do."
At a news conference, Hebert said the nuns "became entranced and deluded with a doctrine that is heretical." He said church officials removed the sacraments from the monastery on Tuesday night.
Hebert said the sect's members believe that its founder, Marie Paule Giguere, is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary and that God speaks directly through her.
Excommunication bars the nuns from participating in the church liturgy and receiving communion or other sacraments.
The diocese said the action was taken after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration that the Army of Mary's teachings were heretical and automatically excommunicated any who embraced the doctrine.
Hebert said the diocese had known for years that the nuns were following the sect and said church officials in the past had encouraged them to come back into the fold.
According to the Catholic News Service, the Army of Mary was founded in Quebec in 1971 by Giguere, who said she was receiving visions from God.
Dionne said she does not know if Giguere is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, but said she believes God communicates through the sect's founder.
"She is doing only what God and Mary tells her to do," Dionne said.
Calls made to a spokesman for the Army of Mary in Quebec were answered by a fax machine tone.
But for church tradition you would never be able to establish the NT Canon.
How can they be excommunicated and still be nuns?? They have broken their vow of obedience. They may own the property but they are just ladies in costumes now. When will they realize it?? It all boils down to obedience.
I am anti-Catholic. That church is soulless and empty.
LOL! No the real question is how much ammo do they have. Never know when we’ll need them ;)
After reading this article, original post, and all the threads (granted, I usually skim and that gets me in trouble at times), I saw a ton of humor but sadly also a ton of anti- catholicism.
Today, I read posts (on another thread) that Catholicism is not bible based, which is odd since Catholics did translate the first bible, it didn’t magically appear in the middle ages. I read that Catholics aren’t Christians. In this thread, I read that Rome and Catholics venerate/worship Mary so it’s their own fault. I had to LOL at that one since it’s so ridiculous I don’t even know how to respond. We don’t “worship” Mary, we honor her as the Mother of Jesus (our Mother)- there’s even a Commandment about “honor thy mother and father”
Personally, I’ve been surprised by what I’ve read in this and another thread today. I thought this was a conservative site. I didn’t realize the catholic hate was so prevalent here. I see it all over the news, internet, life, but thought this site was different.
I don’t know much about Mormonism and anytime I reply to a Mormon based thread, I try to be respectful and hope to learn about their faith. Since Romney is running for POTUS, I have an additional interest. Same with Scientology - don’t know much about that either. I know Catholicism and most of the Protestant denominations. I’m shocked and sorta sad that the same consideration and knowledge is so lacking here.
As with all threads, posts, I do enjoy the wit/humor. The misinformation and out right lies is what bothers me.
Just my two cents.
Sad!
Agreed, all essential points. I would suggest, however, that in addition to obedience there is simply the matter of basic respect. Nobody can join an organization, any organization, that has specific rules, practices, and customs and then decide that they are going to violate those rules with impunity and expect that their actions will be blindly accepted by that organization....this is a ludicrous premise, brought about, perhaps, by the collapse of so many other institutions due to a failure to adhere to their own standards. What if the Republican Party were to adopt a plank for it's platform that abortion on demand is just fine and peachy, any old time you like? That the private ownership of guns was a bad thing? It would cease to be anything like what is commonly known as the Republican Party, even though a few RINOS in the ranks undoubtedly believe such idiotic things. They have no respect for the Party itself, just as these nuns have 'apparently' lost their respect for the Church and it's teachings. If you care enough for an organization to join it, then be respectful enough of that organization to abide by it's rules. If you have a question or a concern about a rule, then bring it up through the existing channels of discourse.....don't proclaim your antipathy to the rules of an organization, practice your unaccepted interpretation and then continue to call yourself a member of that organization in good standing. It's profoundly disrespectful as well as being dishonest.
A nun's habit is not only a symbol of piety, faith and obedience, it is a uniform that proclaims an adherence to the practices and stated principles of the Church. Openly violating those principles is, in my view, similar to a uniformed police officer engaging in criminal activity....that officer is engaging in activities unbecoming an officer and in violation of the police department and the laws they are sworn to uphold and enforce. That officer should lose the privilege of wearing the uniform, at a minimum. By wearing the uniform of the Church, a nun similarly professes her embrace of the Church and it's teachings, and she sets an example for all of society. When someone speaks with a nun about matters pertaining to the Church, one has a right to expect that the nun's words will be reflective of the position of the Church.
I agree. It is sad when they spent most of their lives in service, then this.
The one nun, 82 or so, quoted in the article, sorta makes me think she’s losing it or something. Reincarnation is definitely not a “Christian” belief.
Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard of this order. However, we have a really “liberal” parish here with extremely left leaning nuns - they’re Hillary supporters, and her platform goes against just about everything the Catholic Church teaches (with the exception of certaim socialism based programs) but since they’re in their late 50’s- early 60’s, I blame it on feminist bull they fell for ;)
Be sure you use that line during your particular judgment, goober.
ITA and well said. Well except for the habit/uniform part since most, at least not here, don’t wear habits anymore. Another sad aspect of the modern church.
These nuns took VOWS. Regardless of a uniform or habit, they took vows and they’re ignoring those vows now.
On a side note, most Orders don’t wear habits anymore. Many say it’s a good thing, because they blend well, others say it’s not so good. I’m with the latter. Anyway, we had a new priest assigned to our parish a little over two years ago and he always dressed as a priest - completely, fully, all the time, etc. The whole cassack (sp), even in 100 degree weather (sorry, not sure what it’s called). No “lay clothes” for him in public. We rarely saw priests here in anything other than regular clothes (except for Mass) so this was nice thing for some of us.
Anyway, none of the nuns here wear the habit. My husband thinks that’s a good thing (he’s a new Catholic, converted about 4 years ago). He believes they blend in better. I disagree. I grew up, attended Catholic schools, when priests and nuns dressed in full habits. Especially the nuns. My kids rarely see nuns in the Habit and the first time, had no idea what they were ( I guess some Orders do the habit but none at their school).
I’m sorta sad reading this story because at least that one nun devoted her entire life (she’s 82) in service to the Church/Jesus and something went wrong somewhere. I have to say, my initial thought was “she’s senile” but knowing the Nuns here, they’re so liberal in their beliefs that I question and really don’t understand it all.
Thank you for your kind words and I agree about the habit issue....it’s a special, glorious thing when people decide to devote their lives to God, and those who do so deserve to have special place and regard by the rest of society...attempting to ‘blend in’ diminishes their Mission, in my view.
3 out of 5 have their fingers on the trigger!
And what religion are you?
This being Arkansas, I thought the sisters claimed the Ford Falcon was a better car that the Pontiac Trans Am.
YW. I can understand the blending in to a degree but just don’t agree with it. I think we, meaning our Faith, my Church, the Roman Catholic church, disregarded so much with the modern stuff. And not in a positive way. I think the Habit and Collar, wearing it, is important. Blending in shouldn’t have been an issue. I do understand my husband’s viewpoint to an extent. He was raised in a variety of Prostetant denominations, they switched often. He made a great point about how dress shouldnt’ be an issue and how dress can impede work, etc. (pertaining to the habit). I get that. But I think wearing one’s faith, in respect to nuns/priests, is never a bad thing and more often a good thing. As you stated, it’s like the uniform of a cop or even a member of the military. I know I take special notice whenever I see someone in their military uniform/cams. Maybe because I’m from a military family or a cop family. I don’t know. I think it’s just because I have respect for those who wear those uniforms/habits, something not taught as a priority today.
ITA. Those who devote/devoted their lives to God, should be acknowledged by society. I think in years past, it was given moreso than today. Maybe because they didn’t blend in? I think most people would give a little more respect to someone wearing a habit, etc. Heh, these are the times I feel so old at early 40’s, lol.
I keep seeing more degradation of the catholic church, christianity, the Jews, by every facet of society. Someone here, not this thread, posted that it’s easy to take pot shots at Christians because we won’t fight back. It’s not like if our faith is offended we’re gonna put out a hit or anything. It’s what this society has come to, what’s accepted. Sucks imo.
They do.
However, if an excommunicant confesses their sin and begs for forgiveness, the excommunication will be lifted.
*************
It is sad. One of the nuns is 82. I hope she can find her way back soon.
The article doesn't do justice to the strangeness of this crew. The "Army Of Mary" believes:
(1) In reincarnation.
(2) That Mary is God and that Mademoiselle Giguere is God - specifically that they are two persons of a "Quinity" consisting of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, Mary and Mme. Giguere. I'm not joking.
(3) That the Catholic Church is the "Church Of Peter" and that their organization is the "Church Of John" and that they have superior authority to the Church Of Peter because John was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
(4) That the Church Of John always existed hidden in the Church Of Peter and that Mme. Giguere led this "true church" out of the Petrine one.
So these people aren't only schismatics and heretics, they are members of a new, non-Christian religion.
If nuns can believe in reincarnation, then their formation process must have been very poor! More philosophy and theology, and less... whatever.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.