The case of Abbot Richard Purcell which has featured on the blog for a while, has now begun to make its way through the Vatican’s corridors of power.
The case is being brought by a small number of Catholic lay men and women – long time supporters of Mount Melleray.
They are using funds they intended to leave to the monastery in their wills to finance the case.
They have employed a number of Roman canon lawyers and an Irish senior counsel to guide and advise them.
Initially they had hoped that Purcell would do the right think himself.
No hope of that I’m afraid.
What has happened to the admirable and godly Cistercians?
LOCAL BISHOPS RESISTING FRANCIS ON WOMEN LECTORS AND ACOLYTES.
Pope Francis recently changed canon law to allow for women to be admitted to the “minor orders” of Lector and Acolyte.
It would involve the bishop enrolling women in in these two “orders” traditionally reserved to male seminarians as part of their journey to priesthood.
It would be a very positive step towards the integration of women into the male dominated church.
Francis is not getting much of a reaction from the world’s bishops.
So much for Catholics obeying the pope.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 