Woman faces excommunication ("startled" by bishop's response)

JS Online ^ | August 7, 2006 | TOM HEINEN

[NYer]

Waukesha resident Kathy Sullivan Vandenberg faces excommunication for seeking the priesthood in an unsanctioned ordination ceremony, Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said in a statement handed out at weekend Masses at Vandenberg's home parish.

Dolan wrote to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waukesha that it was his duty to notify the Vatican of Vandenberg's action. Dolan said her excommunication could come soon. The Roman Catholic Church prohibits women from becoming priests.

Vandenberg, 64, said Monday that she was "startled" by the letter and surprised that Dolan had "spent so much time and energy" on it when "other important things" might demand his attention.

In his letter to the parish, Dolan said he was "disappointed because Ms. Vandenberg and I had begun a fruitful dialogue on the matter last fall. At that time, . . . I had advised her that any attempted ordination would affect her relationship with the church.

"I believed her sincerity when she assured me that she was unaware of such a consequence, and did not want that to happen."

Vandenberg said Dolan requested the September 2005 meeting, and in a letter the month before it, he told her that "in the interim, you should not be exercising any liturgical or pastoral ministry in the Catholic church lest confusion or scandal arise among the people."

The next day, she said, she resigned her positions as a eucharistic minister and lector. "I cooperated with the archbishop," she said.

Vandenberg called her meeting with Dolan "very cordial . . . very respectful. . . . I told him about my call to ordination . . . and he was trying to give me some reasons to stay" in the church.

She was stung that Dolan made details of their talk public. "We both agreed that the meeting would be private," she said.

Dolan and Vandenberg disagree on what happened after the meeting.

"She promised she would confer with me about her next step," Dolan wrote to the parish. "In two subsequent letters, I have asked for her decision. Her regrettable participation in the protest gives me her unfortunate answer."

Vandenberg said that "wasn't quite accurate."

"I did respond to him in a letter," she said. "And I said . . . I (was) still deciding what I should do."

On July 31, Vandenberg and 11 other women took part in an ordination ceremony in Pittsburgh - eight to become priests and four to be deacons.

Roman Catholic Womenpriests, which organized the event, has held similar ceremonies in Canada and Europe.

The group claimed last week's ordinations were valid, performed by women "bishops" secretly ordained by anonymous male bishops. Dolan termed them "simulated and invalid."

Of official efforts to sever her ties to the church. Vandenberg said: "Excommunication is simply a punishment. That doesn't mean I'm excluded from the church. Only I can exclude myself."

And that she is not planning to do.

"I want to always be respectful of the church and the bishop," she said, "but there are times when you have to be obedient to God and not the bishop."

[NYer]

Patricia Fresen, center, of Germany, prepares to lay hands on Kathy Sullivan Vandenberg, right, of Waukesha, Wis., during a ceremony where 12 women from throughout the United States proclaimed eight of their number as priests and four as deacons, Monday, July 31, 2006, in Pittsburgh. The ceremony won't be recognized by the Catholic church, which has a 2,000-year tradition of an all-male priesthood. Similar ceremonies conducted by the group Roman Catholic Womenpriests have been held before in other countries, and most of the participants have been excommunicated. It's the first time the group is holding a ceremony in the U.S. The ceremony took place on a riverboat cruise of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

[NYer]

"I want to always be respectful of the church and the bishop," she said, "but there are times when you have to be obedient to God and not the bishop."

Defiant to the bitter end!

[Tax-chick]

Vandenberg said: "Excommunication is simply a punishment. That doesn't mean I'm excluded from the church. Only I can exclude myself." And that she is not planning to do.

Well, Archbishop Dolan, she's spit in your eye, kicked your bird dog, and stepped on your blue suede shoes. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

[AnAmericanMother]

LOL! We'll see what the archbishop does.

Sounds like this woman is not only disobedient and defiant, but a liar as well.

Great ordination material, that.

[LongElegantLegs]

Are those tye-died, buddha-looking robes normal catholic attire?

[NYer]

Are those tye-died, buddha-looking robes normal catholic attire?

Lol ... absolutely not. It's the feminine touch.

[Nihil Obstat]

Vandenberg, 64, said Monday that she was "startled" by the letter and surprised that Dolan had "spent so much time and energy" on it when "other important things" might demand his attention.

Yes! the Bishop does have much more important things to do than to tell you over and over and over again that you would be excommunicated for your stupid make believe fraudulent ordination ceremony.

[Malacoda]

Waukesha resident Kathy Sullivan Vandenberg faces excommunication for seeking the priesthood in an unsanctioned ordination ceremony, Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said in a statement handed out at weekend Masses at Vandenberg's home parish.

FACES excommunication? I would assume she was ex post facto excommunicated as soon as she participated.

[Claud]

ANATHEMA SIT

[Tax-chick]

If Archbishop Dolan continues to mumble, instead of forbidding her entrance to any Catholic Church (and perhaps assigning some Knights of Columbus to escort her politely to the door, if necessary ...) then I would posit that ECUSA is his true spiritual home, too.

[Tax-chick]

Dear ladies, Weight Watchers could change your lives for better. I know a good, reasonably priced hairdresser, too, and a Mary Kay consultant who specializes in (ahem) older customers.

[Aquinasfan]

Vandenberg, 64, said Monday that she was "startled" by the letter and surprised that Dolan had "spent so much time and energy" on it when "other important things" might demand his attention.

Yeah, and she considered these very public supposed "ordinations" to be an unimportant thing, right?

[Aquinasfan]

"Excommunication is simply a punishment. That doesn't mean I'm excluded from the church. Only I can exclude myself."

Matthew 18:17

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

[trisham]

Vandenberg said: "Excommunication is simply a punishment. That doesn't mean I'm excluded from the church. Only I can exclude myself."

*************

Translation: "It's all about ME!"

[ArrogantBustard]

Non serviam

[ArrogantBustard]

Vandenberg said: "Excommunication is simply a punishment. That doesn't mean I'm excluded from the church.

I nominate Mizzzz Vandenberg to be awarded "Most Unclear on the Concept, 2006".

[r9etb]

Vandenberg, 64, said Monday that she was "startled" by the letter and surprised that Dolan had "spent so much time and energy" on it when "other important things" might demand his attention.

SUUUUUuuuuuuuuure, she was startled.

The lady is a liar who is trying to create dissention in the church. That's grounds enough for excommunication.

[r9etb]

This was a Catholic Church thing. I don't understand your Episcopal Church reference....

[AnAmericanMother]

Point is, if what this woman really wanted was to BE a priest, she could join ECUSA and be ordained tomorrow.

That's not what she wants. She wants to destroy the Catholic Church.

[al_c]

"I want to always be respectful of the church and the bishop," she said, "but there are times when you have to be obedient to God and not the bishop."

Then be a nun.