A Christchurch-based order has had its authority removed and its priests stripped of their religious faculties, after a Vatican investigation into allegations of unauthorised exorcisms and spiritual and psychological abuse. Source: NZ Herald.
Priests for the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, or simply The Sons, previously had permission from the Church to preach the Traditional Latin Mass from a chapel in St Albans in Christchurch.
They have now been banned from practicing and told to leave the Christchurch Diocese.
Their leaders, Fr Michael Mary and Fr Anthony Mary, have faced claims of manipulating and controlling their followers and interfering in the lives of families.
Priests were accused of tying people up during exorcisms and screaming at them for hours.
Leader father Michael Mary described the bonds as a “safety harness” which he said was sometimes required when the devil sought to overpower and possess a person.
It was claimed exorcisms were performed on young children – the leaders argued they were only “minor exorcisms”.
Church rules mean any exorcism must be carried out with permission from a bishop and it’s been alleged some of the priests failed to get proper authority.
Both the leaders deny any wrongdoing.
The Vatican appointed former Toowoomba Bishop Robert McGuckin to investigate the order last November after the allegations were exposed on a television news program.
Christchurch Bishop Michael Gielen said in a statement he had received a series of recommendations from the Vatican which have been accepted.
“I am removing the faculties of the priests of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer to exercise sacred ministry in the Christchurch Diocese,” Bishop Gielen said.
“All professed members of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer have been asked to leave the Christchurch diocese.”
FULL STORY
Vatican and Christchurch bishop strip authority from Catholic order The Sons after unauthorised exorcisms (By Michael Morrah, NZ Herald)
Bishop Michael Issues Pastoral Letter – Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Christchurch Diocese)
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