A group of Catholic monks did not leave New Zealand’s Christchurch Diocese by November 1 as requested by the local bishop. Source: The Press.
According to an open letter from the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer monks in October, they refused to leave Christchurch Diocese because a “higher duty forbids it”. They described the actions of Church leaders, including the late Pope Francis, as “evil”.
The Sons’ priests and brothers, led by New Zealand-born Fr Michael Mary, were asked to leave the diocese following a Vatican investigation in 2023 and 2024 regarding allegations of unauthorised exorcisms and abusive behaviour.
Although the Vatican findings remain secret, in mid-2024, Christchurch Bishop Michael Gielen – acting on advice from the Vatican – revoked the Sons’ permission to exercise priestly ministry and asked them to leave the diocese within 90 days.
The Sons bought themselves an extra year with an unsuccessful appeal, but in the meantime bought a church in Ōhoka under what were said to be false pretences, and the group continued to celebrate Mass. A spokesperson for the Sons described it at the time as private Mass and said it was “a grey area”. Bishop Gielen described it as disobedient.
The open letter said their way of practising Catholicism was “incompatible” with the Church today, and appealed to people who sensed “something tremendously wrong in the Church”. The letter also listed things the group rejected, such as like permitting Holy Communion “to couples living in sin”, and “the scourge of religious indifference in New Zealand and throughout the Church”.
Christchurch Diocese chief operating officer Alex Bailey said the diocese has followed Rome’s guidance on all matters concerning the Sons. “The Vatican is now considering these latest developments,” he noted.
FULL STORY
Vatican keeping an eye on monks refusing orders to leave Christchurch (By Sinead Gil, The Press)
Sons of Most Holy Redeemer refuse to leave Christchurch (CathNews NZ)
