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US priest excommunicated for questioning papacy

The priest, facing allegations of dereliction of priestly duties, was suspended four years ago
 US priest excommunicated for questioning papacy

Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento in the US. (Photo: Catholic News Agency)

Published: August 12, 2020 07:18 AM GMT
Updated: August 12, 2020 07:36 AM GMT

A diocesan priest in the US has been excommunicated from the Church for celebrating the Mass without acknowledging the legitimacy of the current pope.

Father Jeremy Leatherby of Sacramento invited excommunication to himself by offering Mass questioning the legitimacy of Pope Francis and continuing his teachings against the Church, Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento said in an Aug. 7 letter.

“He has substituted the Holy Father’s name with the name of his predecessor, and omitted my name during the recitation of the Eucharistic prayer while offering Mass,” Bishop Soto added.

By his words and actions, Father Leatherby has incurred a ‘latae sententiae’ (automatic) excommunication,” the prelate said, according to a report in Catholic News Agency. 

Since 2016, Father Leatherby has been facing allegations of dereliction of priestly duties. Despite his suspension, Father Leatherby continued to hold public Mass.

Bishop Soto has instructed members of the diocese not to allow Father Leatherby to offer sacraments, media reports said.

In March 2016, Father Leatherby was suspended from the priestly ministry and asked leave the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Sacramento. He also faced an investigation into an alleged sexual misconduct with a woman.

Hundreds of his supporters submitted a petition saying the allegations were false, and urged the bishop to lift his suspension.

Since the pandemic reached its peak in March, churches across the US were closed. However, Father Leatherby continued offering weekly Masses in private homes.

In an Aug. 6 statement, the priest said that “in a state of emergency, even laicized or ‘former’ priests can, and perhaps even are morally obliged to, offer the sacraments for the faithful.”

“However, I have celebrated (these Masses) in union with Pope Benedict, not with Pope Francis. Many who have joined me hold, like I do, that Benedict remains the one true pope,” he said the statement.

He said he is “no longer being in union” with the Church “over which Bergoglio (Pope Francis) reigns.”

Leatherby, in his letter, said the retired pope’s resignation valid under the canon law.

His supporters alleged that charges against Father Leatherby were trumped up as retaliation against the priest’s father, a deacon in the diocese, who reported to Church authorities that some priests in the diocese were involved in a homosexual affair.

The diocese of Sacramento said that claim is “not true,” according to Catholic News Agency.

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