Posted on 08/08/2024 9:05:40 AM PDT by ebb tide
The Transalpine Redemptorists, who follow the Roman rite, have filed a canonical complaint against Bishop Michael Gielen of Christchurch, New Zealand, who is kicking them out of his diocese (Zenit.org, 6 August).
Last month, an apostolic visitation recommended that the Redemptorists be banned from celebrating Mass in the diocese. The bishop willingly followed the Vatican's instructions.
The order's canon lawyer has now formally asked the bishop to rescind his decision. If this request is refused, the order intends to take the case to the Apostolic Signatura, the Church's highest tribunal.
The Redemptorists must know that there is no chance of winning a case against the Vatican in the Vatican.
Monsignor Gielen is expected to respond to the order's request in the coming weeks. For now, the Redemptorists remain in the diocese, celebrating 'private' Masses with some parishioners.
Bishop Gielen has given them 90 days, until the beginning of October, to leave the diocese.
The community of committed Catholics around the Redemptorists will be left in the rain, and the property of the Redemptorists with a collective cadastral value of $4.5 million will be lost.
Ping
Francis the Merciful
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