“Bishop Knestout told White he’s petitioned Pope Francis to have him formally removed from the clergy state.”
If that is accurate, I find it surprising. I would think suspension would the usual punishment for disobedience, not being laicized, which I had always thought was imposed involuntarily only for very egregious moral wrongdoing. Perhaps someone more familiar with the technicalities can comment.
This case is similar in some ways to Altman, who I believe is suspended but no threat of laicization.
Knestout seems to be vindictive with his power?