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Church Documents
Vatican
Warning on Mock Ordination of Women
From
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
On June 29, 2002, Romulo Antonio Braschi, the founder of a schismatic
community, attempted to confer priestly ordination on the following
Catholic women: Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Adelinde Theresia
Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris Müller, Ida Raming, Pia
Brunner, and Angela White.
In order to give direction to the consciences of the Catholic
faithful and dispel any doubts which may have arisen, the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith wishes to recall the teaching of
the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
of Pope John Paul II, which states that "the Church has
no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women
and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the
Church's faithful" (n. 4). For this reason, the above-mentioned
"priestly ordination" constitutes the simulation of
a sacrament and is thus invalid and null, as well as constituting
a grave offense to the divine constitution of the Church. Furthermore,
because the "ordaining" bishop belongs to a schismatic
community, it is also a serious attack on the unity of the Church.
Such an action is an affront to the dignity of women, whose specific
role in the Church and society is distinctive and irreplaceable.
The present Declaration, recalling the preceding statements of
the Bishop of Linz and the episcopal conference of Austria and
in accordance with canon 1347 § 1 of the CIC, gives formal
warning to the above-mentioned women that they will incur excommunication
reserved to the Holy See if, by July 22, 2002, they do not (1)
acknowledge the nullity of the "orders" they have received
from a schismatic bishop in contradiction to the definitive doctrine
of the Church and (2) state their repentance and ask forgiveness
for the scandal caused to the faithful.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith, July 10, 2002.
Joseph Card. RATZINGER, Prefect
Tarcisio BERTONE, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli, Secretary
Source: Zenit.org
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