Francis Met Archbishop Removed by Benedict XVI
On 24 June, Francis co-presided a Eucharist with Bezák and returned to him the episcopal ring which he had sent to the Vatican years ago in one of his many appeals for a review of his case.
Bezák was appointed Trnava Archbishop in April 2009 when he was only 49. From the beginning, he wanted to promote an “open Church” – a euphemism for a Church which is open to everything but the Catholic Faith.
He also denigrated several times his predecessor Ján Sokol, 87, for alleged financial mismanagement.
However, a January 2012 apostolic visit led by Bishop Jan Baxant, 72, of Litoměřice found that Bezák himself was guilty of statements contrary to Church doctrine regarding female priesthood, priestly celibacy, and premarital sex. In July 2012 Bezák was removed.
Since December 2013, Bezák who is a Redemptorist, has been living in the Redemptorist monastery in Bussolengo near Verona, Italy.
#newsXawltcugok
