Vatican upholds removal of priests' faculties

5 September 2024

Decrees stopping four priests of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer from exercising ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch remain in force, despite some other decrees being suspended while an appeal proceeds.

In July, Bishop Michael Gielen, acting on advice from the Holy See, issued several decrees regarding the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer. The decrees followed an apostolic visitation – a Vatican-initiated investigation into a range of matters brought to Bishop Gielen’s attention, including through the media.

The decrees saw the removal of priestly faculties for four priests of the order, and required all members of the order to leave the Diocese of Christchurch within 90 days.

After a canon lawyer representing the order lodged an appeal, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life suspended the decree requiring members of the order to leave the Diocese.

A petition to have the removal of priestly faculties overturned was denied, meaning the priests remain unable to exercise priestly ministry – including the celebration of Mass for anyone outside the religious community.

The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has also suspended the execution of decrees related to the suppression of a group known as the Daughters of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Msgr Brendan Daly, the canon lawyer acting for the Diocese of Christchurch, said the appeal procedure is an essential part of due process within the Church’s legal framework.

“It is important to underline the removal of faculties remains in force, so any Masses the priests celebrate with members of the public are illicit – outside the law of the Church,” he said.

“We continue to encourage people with a devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass to attend a licit Mass at Kaiapoi, which offers such a Mass each Sunday at 11am.”

Msgr Daly said the Diocese is deeply disappointed by reports that the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are not abiding by Bishop Gielen’s decrees. That includes the arrival of a priest reportedly entering the Diocese and exercising ministry without approval.

“The Diocese will now respond to the Dicastery and offer clarifications on a range of matters to support a final resolution being reached. We will argue for all decrees, as issued in July, to be reinstated,” Msgr Daly said.