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Last Humiliation: Father Stefano Manelli, Founder of Franciscans of the Immaculate, Becomes Diocesan Priest

A sad chapter in the life of Father Stefano Maria Manelli, founder of the formerly flourishing Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, has now come to a close. The Franciscans of the Immaculate were a flourishing order and strongly oriented towards the Roman rite Mass.

On 12 September, the Dicastery for Religious granted the 92-year-old founder the dispensation from his vows. He will become a diocesan priest.

A three-year process completed

In September 2022, Bishop Suetta of Ventimiglia–Sanremo, Italy, accepted Father Manelli into the diocese 'on trial'. The dispensation of the vows allows this arrangement to be finalised.

In 2019, Father Manelli was suspended a divinis. This meant that he was forbidden to publicly exercise his priestly ministry, for example by celebrating Mass, administering sacraments and preaching.

Although the Vatican did not accuse Father Manelli of any doctrinal heresy or moral crime, he was suspended based on vague disciplinary and governance concerns. The accusations were of "authoritarian leadership" and a "lack of collegial decision-making".

How it unfolded – and ended

The roots of the conflict stretch back over a decade, beginning under Benedict XVI. In 2013, following complaints from within the community, the Vatican ordered an Apostolic Visitation of the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

Gloria.tv has learned that initial complainants regretted making the accusations. They realised quickly that they had been used during Pope Francis's reign to ruin the order.

In July 2013, Francis appointed Father Fidenzio Volpi, an Italian Capuchin, as commissioner. Hostile towards the order's Catholic orientation, he practically destroyed it.

Relations between Father Manelli and the Holy See became increasingly strained. The Vatican labelled Father Manelli’s attempts to save the order as “persistent disobedience”.

Civil proceedings: property and finances

Alongside the ecclesial conflict, there were also civil court cases in Italy. Father Manelli and some of his closest associates were accused of diverting assets and donations from the Institute into lay-run foundations in order to keep them beyond the control of the Vatican.

The defence argued that the property transfers were legal and intended to protect the Institute’s assets from hostile interference.

In June, the Tribunal of Avellino declared that there were “no grounds to proceed” with the cases of fraudulent asset management and embezzlement, as the statute of limitations had expired.

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foward

These people are cruel and ruthless.

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Boanerges Boanerges

Bergoglian verdict: they were not synodal enough, must be destroyed (as the rest of the Catholic Church)

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DrMaria

This is soooo sad ---- Fr. Manelli's persecution is a result of the attempted destruction of the Franciscans of the Immaculate order by the Bergoglio regime - thankfully, many excellent consecrated religious from this community still continue the Marian charism - received by Fr. Stefano Manelli. Let us give thanks for Fr. Manelli and his ministry - and pray for him -

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GIANLUCA CROCIATO MARTONE

Fine orrida

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Wojciech Lapkowski

Ty czy ja ?

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Lionel Leslie Andrades

When that center was closed at Boccea, the Parish Priest of the church Santa Maria di Nazareth and the Rector of the Franciscans of the Immaculate(F.I) seminary, allowed me to live in the basement of the old unused church of the F.I. I was there for about seven years. The old church along with the seminary of the F.l was closed down by Pope Francis. The F.I did not align with Vatican Council II irrational for the pope. While Pope Francis did not accept Vatican Council II, rational. It would be a source of suffering for him.
In Rome, for them, the enemy is the Bible, Vatican Council II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.-Lionel Andrades

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Sean Johnson

It is madness (or simple stupidity) to believe the conciliar church would allow anything smacking of preconciliar tradition to flourish. As though wolves would seek the wellbeing of those in the henhouse.

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Lionel Leslie Andrades

But there is also ignorance. The Franciscans of the Immaculate, both groups could interpret Vatican Council II rationally instead of irrationally at present and they would return to Tradition. to the Tradition of the Roman Missal. Why are they not doing this ? Who is stopping them ?

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