THE Pope acted against natural justice and the Catholic Church’s own canon law when he sacked Bill Morris as Bishop of Toowoomba last May, two expert independent reports have found.

The Queensland Supreme Court judge W.J. Carter found that Bishop Morris was denied procedural fairness and natural justice and his treatment was “offensive” to the requirements of both civil and canon law.

He wrote about one unsigned Vatican letter to the bishop: “One could not imagine a more striking case of a denial of natural justice”. His conclusion was endorsed by a leading Australian canon lawyer, Father Ian Waters, of Melbourne, whose report was made public last week.

He found that Pope Benedict had breached canon law and exceeded his authority in removing Bishop Morris without finding him guilty of apostasy, heresy or schism and without following the judicial procedures canon law requires.

Bishop Morris was sacked by the Pope after refusing to resign when requested to do so by three cardinals, the heads of important Vatican departments, who considered that his leadership was “defective”.

He never saw any of the charges against him and never had a chance to defend himself.

Both reports were commissioned by Bishop Morris’s supporters in Toowoomba.

Full Story: Pope broke canon law dismissing bishop, say experts

Source: Sydney Morning Herald