Holy See excommunicates the self-styled Catholic Bishops of Ukrain

March 29, 2012: The Holy See has excommunicated four Ukranian "self-styled Catholic Bishops", Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in a statement released on Thursday. These bishops had been earlier expelled from the Basilian Order of St. Jehoshaphat. After their expulsion, they claimed themselves to be bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and tried to register it locally, but did not succeed not.

According to the communique released, these bishops with their behavior defy the ecclesiastical authority, damage the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, the Apostolic See and the entire Catholic Church, causing division and confusion among the faithful.

The statement further noted that The Holy See had hoped for their repentance and subsequent return to full communion with the Catholic Church. But it did not happen.

Therefore, the common good of the Church, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith accepting the request made by the ecclesiastical authority of the greek-catholic Church in Ukraine, has derecognized formally the validity of their ordinations of bishops and of all those orders that are derived or will derive from them.

According to cannon law no 1462, 1447 and 1452 which refer to the crimes of unlawful usurpation of the office; of sedition and hatred fomented against some hierarchs and provocation of subjects to disobey, and the crime of injuring the reputation of others by means of slanderous statements, they are excommunicated.

It also notified that the name "Catholic" used by groups not recognized by the competent ecclesiastical authority has been unlawful and abusive.

The faithful are therefore bound not to join that group as it is, outside of ecclesiastical communion, are invited to pray for members of the same group so that they may repent and return to full communion with the Catholic Church.

The statement has been issued from the Palace of the Holy Office, dated 22 February 2012 and is signed by Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.