DECRETO DELLA CONGREGAZIONE PER LA DOTTRINA
DELLA FEDE SULL'ATTENTATA ORDINAZIONE SACERDOTALE DI ALCUNE
DONNE CATTOLICHE , 27.01.2003
On June 29, 2002, Romulo Antonio Braschi, founder
of a schismatic community, attempted to ordain the following
Catholic women to the priesthood: Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger,
Adelinde Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris Müller, Ida Raming,
Pia Brunner and Dagmar Braun Celeste, who on that occasion identified
herself as Angela White.
Citing the previous interventions of the Bishop of Linz and
of the Austrian Episcopal Conference, the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith published a statement on July 10, 2002,
warning the above-mentioned persons that they would be punished
with excommunication if by July 22, 2002, they had not acknowledged
the nullity of their "ordination" and asked forgiveness
for the scandal caused to the faithful. As they gave no indication
of amendment, this Congregation punished the aforementioned
persons with excommunication, reserved to the Apostolic See,
in the Decree dated August 5, 2002, expressing the hope that
they might be moved to conversion. The Decree also confirmed
that the "ordaining" bishop was already excommunicated
insofar as he is a schismatic.
They subsequently published letters and granted interviews,
in which they expressed their conviction regarding the validity
of the "ordination" they received, calling for a change
of the definitive doctrine according to which ordination to
the priesthood is reserved to males, and reaffirming that they
celebrate "Mass" and other "sacraments"
for small groups. In a letter dated August 14, 2002, they asked
that the Decree of Excommunication be revoked, and then, on
September 27, 2002, with reference to canons 1732-1739 CIC,
they made recourse against the Decree. On October 21, 2002,
they were informed that their request would be submitted to
the competent authority.
The request for revocation and the recourse were examined by
the Sessione Ordinaria of the Congregation on the 4th and 18th
of December 2002. The Members of the Congregation who participated
- those resident in Rome - were Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger,
Alfonso López Trujillo, Ignace Moussa I. Daoud, Giovanni
Battista Re, Francis Arinze, Jozef Tomko, Achille Silvestrini,
Jorge Medina Estévez, James Francis Stafford, Zenon Grocholewski,
Walter Kasper, Crescenzio Sepe, Mario Francesco Pompedda, and
Bishops Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., and Rino Fisichella. In the
course of these meetings the Members arrived at the collegial
decision to confirm the Decree of Excommunication. In the case
under consideration, in fact, hierarchical recourse is not possible,
as it concerns a Decree of Excommunication issued by a Dicastery
of the Holy See acting in the name of the Supreme Pontiff (cf.
can. 360 CIC). So as to remove any doubt in the matter, the
Members thought it necessary to underline certain fundamental
points.
1. It is necessary above all to state precisely that the case
under consideration does not involve a latae sententiae penalty,
which is incurred ipso facto when a delict expressly established
by the law is committed. It concerns instead a ferendae sententiae
penalty, imposed after the guilty party has been duly warned
(cf. cann. 1314; 1347 §1 CIC). As provided by can. 1319
§1 CIC, this Congregation has the power to threaten determinate
penalties by precept.
2. The particular gravity of the offenses committed is evident,
which can be seen from various aspects.
a) There is first of all the issue of schism: the above-mentioned
women were "ordained" by a schismatic bishop and -
even though not formally adhering to his schism - thereby made
themselves accomplices in schism.
b) In addition there is the doctrinal aspect, namely, that they
formally and obstinately reject a doctrine which the Church
has always taught and lived, and which was definitively proposed
by Pope John Paul II, namely, "that the Church has no authority
whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women" (Apostolic
Letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis, n. 4). The denial of this doctrine
is rightly considered the denial of a truth that pertains to
the Catholic faith and therefore deserves a just penalty (cf.
cann. 750 §2; 1372, n. 1 CIC; John Paul II, Apostolic Letter
Motu Proprio Ad tuendam fidem, n. 4A).
Moreover, by denying this doctrine, the persons in question
maintain that the Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff would be
binding only if it were based on a decision of the College of
Bishops, supported by the sensus fidelium and received by the
major theologians. In such a way they are at odds with the doctrine
on the Magisterium of the Successor of Peter, put forward by
both the First and Second Vatican Councils, and they thereby
fail to recognize that the teachings of the Supreme Pontiff
on doctrines to be held definitively by all the faithful are
irreformable.
3. The refusal to comply with the penal precept established
by this Congregation is further aggravated by the fact that
some of the above-mentioned women have been gathering round
them members of the faithful, in open and devisive disobedience
to the Roman Pontiff and diocesan bishops. In view of the gravity
of this contumacy (cf. can. 1347 CIC), the penalty imposed is
not only just, but also necessary, in order to protect true
doctrine, to safeguard the communion and unity of the Church
and to guide the consciences of the faithful.
4. The above-mentioned Members of the Congregation of the Doctrine
of the Faith therefore confirm the Decree of Excommunication
issued on August 5, 2002, specifying once again that the attempted
priestly ordination of the aforementioned women is null and
invalid (cf. can. 1024 CIC) and therefore all those actions
proper to the Order of Priesthood performed by them are also
null and invalid (cf. cann. 124; 841 CIC). In consequence of
the excommunication, they are forbidden to celebrate sacraments
or sacramentals, to receive the sacraments and to exercise any
function in an ecclesiastical office, ministry or assignment
(cf. can. 1331 §1 CIC).
5. At the same time, it is hoped that, sustained by the grace
of the Holy Spirit, they might discover the path to conversion
and so return to the unity of faith and to communion with the
Church, a communion broken by their action.
The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience granted
to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect on December 20, 2002, approved
this Decree, adopted in the Sessione Ordinaria of this Congregation,
approving at the same time in forma specifica n. 4, and ordered
its publication.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, December 21, 2002.
+ Joseph Card. Ratzinger
Prefect
+ Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Archbishop-elect of Genoa
Secretary
