A Melbourne priest claims that Pope “Love Don’t Mind Me Some Gays” Francis defrocked and excommunicated him for his support of women priests and gays.
Father Greg Reynolds resigned as a parish priest in 2011 to found Inclusive Catholics — which is exactly what it sounds like. According to The Age, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said Reynolds was excommunicated because “after his priestly faculties were withdrawn he continued to celebrate the Eucharist publicly and preach contrary to the teachings of the church.”
Reynolds’s letter of excommunication, dated May 31, was written in Latin and gave no explanation, meaning that it was given under the authority of the Pope. Reynolds said he expected to be excommunicated, though it would have made no difference to his ministry. Getting his frock snatched, however, was a shock.
“In times past excommunication was a huge thing, but today the hierarchy have lost such trust and respect,” Reynolds, who is technically no longer a priest, told The Age. ”I’ve come to this position because I’ve followed my conscience on women’s ordination and gay marriage.”
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Excommunication, a temporary censure, bars an individual from holding any ecclesiastical office or receiving sacraments, while being laicized or defrocked means you’re totes dunnzos as a priest. The latter punishment is usually reserved for pedophiles, on whom the Catholic Church has always been rather, shall we say, lax. Hell, we can even say they’ve been downright negligent to the point of becoming the Vatican City chapter of NAMBLA.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis has been so warm and fuzzy with the gays as of late, displaying what passes for a progressive attitude in the Holy See. He famously questioned who was he to judge if a gay seeks the divine light of the Lord back in July. Then, earlier this month, a young French ‘mo claimed the Pope called him to reassure him that it was okay to be gay. While the Vatican denied that any such conversation took place, Franny did call for the Church and its followers to be more welcoming and less “small-minded” just last week.
So Reynolds’s strict punishment for supporting the inclusion of women priests and gays seems contrary to what Francis has been extolling these past few months. Of course, the pontiff never advocated for women to be included in the clergy so much as for people to give more props to Mary for birthing the Lord and all. But maybe Reynolds’s dismissal was just the Vatican’s way of getting out of that modest severance package they owe Reynolds.
Reynolds was penniless when he resigned as a priest and was later offered a $5000 payout for 32 years of service. The standard amount is $1500 per annum, coming to a grandiose grand total of $48,000. Negotiations are still ongoing, or the Vatican could just send him one of Pope Emeritus Benedict’s couture bath robes and call it even.
Triple S
If the Age said anything of an opinion, I would advise not to trust it. Far left, anti Coalition (current Australian government) sentiment runs exponentially high.
Don’t read the comment sections if you want to maintain your sanity 😛
2eo
Seems to be a man with a conscience getting kicked aside by child molesters [again].
How these people put with religion and the poison it inflicts as the principle scourge of our species is beyond me.
2eo
I’m also loving Australias attack on the church and systematic dismantling of all faith in general. I sincerely hope they rule that they can be prosecuted, I’d love to see these nutters hung for their trillions of crimes against humanity.
VerleneFarrior
My Uncle Jake just got Alfa Romeo only from working parttime off a pc at home. look here,,, gg.gg/hol2
DarkZephyr
Personally, I am curious to know *exactly* why this priest has been excommunicated. Despite the fact that this priest is making light of it, excommunication is a HUGE deal and does NOT come easily at all. There has got to be far more to this story than what we are hearing. The fact that he was also laicized makes it even more clear that this is HUGE deal. There have been other priests and nuns before him that have been pro-gay and pro-woman and they did not get “defrocked” or excommunicated. The Catholic Church is usually very slow to do this and tends to give chance after chance after chance before they finally resort to it. I am mighty curious for the fullness of the facts to come to light. It doesn’t surprise me that he would be disciplined or censured (he clearly expected it himself)because if you obstinately disobey the orders of your superior or of Rome that is just what’s gonna happen, period, that should come as no pearl clutching sock to absolutely anyone, but the “excommunication” angle and even the “defrocking” angle are some red flags for me. There is far more here than meets the eye.
DarkZephyr
@DarkZephyr: And that would be “pearl clutching shock” and not “sock”.
BJ McFrisky
I am truly befuddled by all the anti-Catholic articles on this site. Yes, yes, a lot of priests did bad things to innocent kids, and I agree all organized religion is corrupt to some degree, but what is truly stunning is the way LGBTs embrace and defend Muslims—who literally want to kill us—while trashing Catholicism relentlessly. It transcends political correctness, it borders on Stockholm-syndrome craziness, and it makes no sense. Anyone who doesn’t understand the difference (i.e., Christians just think we’re unnatural, but Muslims hate us and eagerly want us dead) is being purposely naïve.
Cam
Look, this Pope never said he was FOR gay marriage, what he DID say is that the church has become obsessed with homosexuality and abortion rather than concentrating on things like poverty etc….
So again, it isn’t that he is going to go out and conduct a gay wedding, but he seems to think that the church shouldn’t be wasting it’s time and resources constantly attacking when there are so many real problems out there.
That is my take from it. The guy before him, Rattsinger, would have been more comfortable if he had been Pope during the inquisition I think.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky: Said…
“I am truly befuddled by all the anti-Catholic articles on this site. Yes, yes, a lot of priests did bad things to innocent kids, and I agree all organized religion is corrupt to some degree, but what is truly stunning is the way LGBTs embrace and defend Muslims—who literally want to kill us—while trashing Catholicism relentlessly.”
_____________-
And once again, BJ can never just comment on an article, he has to use it as an excuse to attack “The Gays”.
Here is an idea, please give us an example of all “The Gays” on here embracing and defending Muslims who want to kill us. Oh, but wait a second, you would rather just blather out a false statement so you can then use that falsehood as ANOTHER excuse to attack “The gays”.
Talk about Stockholm Syndrome, you seem to spend your entire life trying to prove to right wingers that you’re a “Good Gay” and not one of those pesky ones who wants things like equal rights.
The fact is, that the Catholic and Mormon churches are THE major funders of NOM which is responsible for pretty much every single anti-gay bill that has been pushed in the last 15 years. They are directly attacking gays legislatively in America, and yet you seem to have a problem about an article about them. Talk about trying to cosy up to the folks who hate you.
Again, I just feel sad for you when I read your posts.
jonjct
^ the problem i have is that gays on here just vomit-up some of the worst, ugliest vitriol when it comes to the catholic church instead of having some level of intelligent dialogue. i am embarrassed for those ppl, and really, you sound so awful. (oh and yeah, the muslims have every intention of killing gays or putting us in jail, so turn off your aljazeera).
BJ McFrisky
@jonjct: You said it, bro.
@Cam: Newsflash: We weren’t talking about gay marriage, we were discussing religion. But I invite you to prove your point: Go into any U.S. city and publicly proclaim your sexuality . . . and then go do the same in Iran. Guess which country you won’t get out of alive?
And seriously—there’s an absolute theme on this site to be Muslim-friendly and anti-Catholic. I’ve been labeled Islamophobic here more times than I could count. If you haven’t picked up on that theme, then you’re obviously Muslim-friendly and anti-Catholic yourself.
Spike
Nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
andy_d
@BJ McFrisky: There is nothing wrong with MODERATE adherents to ANY religion. It is the radicalization – including the hateful pronouncements of the Pope and radical Imams – that are causing the problem.
Cam
@jonjct:
Funny, you would think that you trolls would have learned from the mess that the Mormons got into on these gay blogs that claiming that the gays are the evil nasty mean people and the church’s funneling millions of dollars into the destruction of civil rights are the poor victims.
Nice try. But just to let you know, your scam of claiming that a bully coming at you trying to hit you with a baseball bat is really a victim if you block their swing and don’t let them hit you is idiotic.
The Catholic church, again, was one of the two largest funders of NOM, responsible for every ganti-gay law pushed in the past 15 years. They had an agreement with the Mormon church to fight the spread of gay rights starting in Hawaii. Oh, and of course there are the Magdeline Houses where young girls were enslaved and abused all the way up to the 1990’s in Europe.
So please point out to me how somehow the church’s attacks on gays are somehow not bad, but gays pointing out the church’s behavior is.
And B.J. Once again, please explain why you can never simply deal with the subject of an article but must find a way to use it as an attack on the “The Gays”. Your self hatred is at the point where you really should see somebody about it.
Red_Dragon_888
“chickens will come home to roost.”
DarkZephyr
@Cam: I agree that bad behavior should be scrutinized and brought to light, etc. One issue that I personally have, as a survivor of molestation, is how quick people are on here at at HuffPost to paint all Catholic Religious with the brush of “child molesters”. I feel that the suffering and torment that many victims of abuse have gone through is being exploited for the sake of an easy rock to pick up and hurl at all Catholics. I hate that.
At least you use facts when you critique, I respect that and whole heartedly agree. It is for this reason that I am SO over Christianity that its not even funny. I am not entirely sure if the Church itself is officially funding NOM, but plenty of lay Catholics are. Though I would like to point out that here in WA one of the biggest groups in support of gay rights are Catholics in the Pew. I will always be grateful to them for their part in helping pass Referendum 74 pass.
And about the statements of the current Pope. Many folks on Queerty are scoffing, saying “too little too late” or “He isn’t really saying anything at all”, etc. This isn’t entirely true. I come from a HUGE family of Catholics and I myself was baptized as an infant (though I am Agnostic). I see how many Catholics are interpreting his words, and this is actually very important. MANY Catholics are taking it this way “Lay off the gays”. I welcome this, no matter how much snark or shade certain people want to throw about it. “Too little too late”? When it comes to an institution as ancient and long lived as the Catholic Church, no, its not “too late”. Just because it took them a long time to do this does not mean we should reject it for God’s sake. Catholicism has survived many things and will likely keep trucking on for centuries to come. Any change they can make for the better is a GOOD thing because they will continue to be an influence in this world for a LOOONG time to come, for better or for worse. I am glad the Pope has made these comments and they really ARE a big deal. It may not be a change in doctrine, but I don’t gibe a rip about that. What it IS being taken as though as a call for a change of *attitudes*. This is highly significant.
Kieran
@jonjct: ” the problem i have is that gays on here just vomit-up some of the worst, ugliest vitriol when it comes to the catholic church instead of having some level of intelligent dialogue. i am embarrassed for those ppl, and really, you sound so awful.”
Well said. Amen.
Gordon
Nothing in the Holy Roman Church changes! Nothing. And if you think it will, you are sadly mistaken. Do not be fooled by those red silk robes, red shoosies, and high phrases! They are not going to quietly slink into the night.
DarkZephyr
@Gordon: Attitudes towards those that do not share their beliefs can and does change and that is the most important thing.
Cam
@DarkZephyr:
Agreed, in my origional posting I mentioned that this Pope wasn’t saying that the church now supports gay marriage, but he WAS seeming to attack the recent church obsession with gays and abortion over things like poverty. Frankly it’s a welcome change.
DarkZephyr
@Cam: I agree completely.
I also found out what it was he was excommunicated for. It was because he started his own schismatic Church. That would certainly explain it. He made the step himself, the Pope merely formalized this Priest’s own decision. He should have known this would happen. It happened to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre before him (ironically because HE thought he Church was too liberal rather than too conservative). So I am not at all shocked or even dismayed that this happened. It sounds to me like the priest got exactly what he wanted. Freedom from Rome.
MK Ultra
When a big, multinational, wealthy corporation makes a statement about how important human rights, labor rights, the environment etc… are to them and how seriously they take it, none of you better EVER question them.
If you did, you would just be a gay who’s vomiting some of the worst, ugliest vitriol about corporations, who are our friends!, instead of intelligent dialogue.
Who cares about your unlivable wages? If a corporation says in a PR statement that they’ll work on it, you have to realize that’s a big change and even though they’ll continue to reduce your wages and work hours, the empty words they provided will keep you warm during winter and keep your stomach full!
And then afterwards, they’ll send you on a free vacation to lollipop land, and you’ll put you up in a huge mansion, and you’ll have all the sexual partners you want.
Corporate Propaganda! Made by smart people for the dumb, stupid masses!
DarkZephyr
@MK Ultra: and I am sure they are a part of the illuminati
Danny
As a lapsed – VERY LAPSED – Catholic, I don’t see where the guy has a beef with being excommunicated, if the facts of the case are as Queerty lays them out. The previous Pope, Benedict, defrocked him. He then continued to represent himself as a priest. Sounds like he was excommunicated for defiance, not for advocacy for gays and women priests.
Esri
Yes. Greg Reynolds shouldn’t have been “shocked” that he was excommunicated. He resigned from his last post as a parish priest and for that he was suspended. However, he continued to function as a priest. I think the final straw was when a dog received communion during one of his [illicit] masses. We should cut Pope Francis some slack. He’s only been on the job for six months! Even so, he has set a very different tone as pope from that of JP2 and B16. Rather than judge him prematurely let’s stand back, take a deep breath, and see what he does.
Ruhlmann
Cut him some slack? Tighten the rope I say.
2eo
@Ruhlmann: If only, if we held those responsible for human misery to task instead of brown people living in a mud hut in the arse end of nowhere.
They deservew to be hung for the money they’ve stolen, the diseases they’ve spread, the Nazi’s they helped and still support, the 250,000 paedophiles they protect.
The list of their crimes is endless.
Cam
@MK Ultra:
I bet you smell like a mixture of spirulina and crazy.
Esri
“Tighten the rope”?! I’m glad we’ll be judged by God rather than by you, Ruhlmann. Has Pope Francis stolen money, spread disease, and supported Nazis and pedophiles? I don’t think so.
2eo
@Esri: Yes on all of those accounts, absolutely tons.
god won’t judge me because there is no god. It’s a surprisingly simple concept really.
Esri
I’d say you’re rather “simple” minded.
2eo
@Esri: Simple is believing there is an afterlife, that man frolicked with dinosaurs, and a two thousand year old set of laws written by useless, semi coherant drug addicted brainless subnormals is worth anything.
TomMc
Sorry, but…
I’d like to “chime in” at this point.
OK?
See… I was raised in a Presbyterian (read an earlier version of The Westminster Confession of Faith perhaps(?) to get the gravity of that) household, with a grandma who was a member of The Orange Lodge.
What’s more, even though my sister married a Roman Catholic (actually, two – but no, no… not at the same time), my smother and I loved her regardless.
(Granny was long-dead by then though, in her defence.)
Point is, from where I’m sitting…
(and despite all of that) This pope is the first (only?!) one worthy of the appellation “Holy Father”.