Bishop Brian McGee, 54, of Argyll and The Isles, Scotland, excommunicated a group of hermits on Westray Island, reports Deacon Nick Donnelly on Twitter.
The excommunication was notified on Christmas Eve by mail.
The group consists of Father Stephen de Kerdrel, Sister Colette Roberts and Brother Damon Kelly who, in the past, was arrested ten times for criticising homosexuality and abortion.
The reason for the excommunication was a declaration published in summer on the hermits' website calling Francis “a great heretic” and stating that “never in history has there been such a Pope, who by his actions, words, and teaching, has thrown the whole Church into confusion.”
The hermits declaration therefore withdraw “our obedience from Pope Francis and sever communion with the Holy See.”
Picture: Stephen de Kerdrel, © Nick Donnelly, #newsSxxgfrdnaj
This is called abuse of authority because no one HAS THE POWER TO excommunicate a Catholic for being a Catholic. Who is automatically excommunicated is the one who decrees an invalid excommunication to persecute a faithful Catholic.