On 29 June 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 judgement 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 offence 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 22 July 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, 10 July 2002.
Joseph Card. RATZINGER,
Prefect
Tarcisio BERTONE, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli,
Secretary
DECREE OF EXCOMMUNICATION
Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith
On 5 August the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published
the Decree of Excommunication of the seven women who took part in an
invalid ordination ceremony in Austria on Saturday, 29 June.
The ceremony which took place on a boat on the Danube River in
Austria, was performed by Romulo Antonio Braschi, an Argentinian priest,
who broke with the Catholic Church in 1998, and was ordained a Bishop in
the Schismatic Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil. That group broke
away from the Holy See in 1945. The seven women, from Germany, Austria
and the United States are: Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Adelinde
Theresia Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris Müller, Ida Raming, Pia
Brunner and Angela White. The women were given time to repent and
renounce their ordination, but the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith noted that they have given no sign of repentance.
Premise to the Decree of Excommunication
In order to dispel any doubts about the canonical status of Bishop
Romulo Antonio Braschi, who attempted to confer priestly ordination on
several Catholic women, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith confirms that, as a schismatic, he has already incurred an
excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.
Decree of Excommunication
Following upon the warning issued by this Congregation on 10 July
2002, and published the following day, because the women Christine
Mayr-Lumetzberger, Adelinde Theresia Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris
Müller, Ida Raming, Pia Brunner and Angela White did not within the
period that ended on 22 July 2002, give any indication of
amendment or repentance for the most serious offense they had committed,
this Dicastery, in keeping with this warning, declares that they
have incurred an excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See with all
the effects established by canon 1331 of the Code of Canon Law.
In having to take this action, the Congregation trusts that, by the
grace of the Holy Spirit, these persons may discover the path of
conversion in order to return to the unity of the faith and to communion
with the Church, which they have wounded by their actions.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, 5 August 2002.
JOSEPH Card. RATZINGER
Prefect
TARCISIO BERTONE, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli
Secretary
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