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TWO,NOTTINGHAM PRIESTS. AN OLD ( CATHOLIC.CONSECRATION. By Tclcsraph-rrcss AEsoclation-CopyrtKlit -.''■• Rome , , February 2G.-Tho-Popo has indicted major • excomniumiention on tho ](evs. 11. I. Bealo and A.W.irowartli, of Nottingham, who were consecrated by Dr. Mathcv, tho Old Catholic Bishop in England. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. CONSECRATIONS ANNOUNCED. The Old Catholic Church. was formed by tho separation from .tho Roman Catholic Church of those who objected to tho dogma of papal infallibility proclaimed by tho Vatican Council in 1870. Dr.' Jtathew is tho. Bishop of. tho Old Catholics residing in England. The following paragraph appeared under the heading "Lcclesissiical. Intelligence." in "Tho Times'' of August 19: ■ Tho Rev. Herbert Ignatius Bealo. and the Row Arthur William Howarth, of Corby, Grantham, who were created Monsignori by Pops Leo XIII, have received episcopal consecration. On tho Eamo day the following statement appeared in "Tho' Nottingham Guardian": Tho Rev.'Herbert Ignatius. Beale, o? St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church, Nottingham, and tho Hov. Arthur William Howarth, of St. Mary'G, Corby, near Grantham, havo received consecration to ,tho- Roman Catholic Episcopate. Both were created Monsignori by Pope Leo XIII.
Commenting on tho above the "Tablet" (Roman Catholic) of August 27, states:— "Tho statement in tho Nottingham paper is incorrect and that in:' The Times'likely to mislead. We are informed that the 'episcopal c'onFccration' referred to was from tho hands of tho - Old Catholic Bishop Jlathew. The ceremony took place on June 13 at. Corby in tho presence of/ four witnesses; In regard to tho statement that they were created Mousignori by Leo XIII, it will be remembered that the Briefs conferring the title of 'Monsignor , oii the Rev.' 11. Bealo and the Rev. A. Howarth, in November, 11)01, wero revoked, by Rome a few days after they.had been.issued."; ,
Bishop of Nottingham Takes Actioni In his letter .to Father. Bealo tho Bishop of Nottingham slated: VI-am in Eossession.of evidence, to proTe that you ave received episcopal consecration at tho hands of ono who is not' in communion with ,the-Holy See. By that act you have put yourself-outside the palo of the Church. I therefore as your Ordinary suspend you from all.ecclesiastical powers and faculties. . You may -not say Mass in my diocese, nor exercise any spiritual authority." '.-...:, To Father Howarth the Bishop wrote:— "I know that yon havo received episcopal consecration'at tho hands of one who is not in communion with the Holy See. That is a schismatic act, a-communicatio
in sacris, and entails excommunication. Moreover, as your Ordinary, I suspend you, on account of that act, from all ecclesiastical and sacerdotal- faculties in this diocese, and I forbid, you to say Mass anywhero within its limits." Father Howarth, in his reply, stated:— !'As subject to the Holy See, I am hound to regard your instrument of suspension as an unlawful interference with my inalienable right of access to tho Holy Father in person, as well as an act of insubordination to.tho noly See, and as such ultai vires, and, therefore, null and void. I cannot acknowledge your jurisdiction in this matter without repudiating tho Pope, invalidating ray appeal to him, and becoming an accessory after tho, fact in your act of insubordination to his Holiness, and this I am not prepared to do. I hereby officially notify yon that in accordance with the law of the Koman Catholic -Church I shall ijjnoro your suspension, and I shall celebrate the noly Sncrifico of the Mass, and- exercise my priestly faculties as before, pending tho judgment of tho Holy Father in person.'
■■'■■'. Dishop Mathew's Explanation.' , Bishop Mathew, tho consecrating prelate, in an interview with a representative of "Tho Daily News,". said: , "They are both priests against whoso reputation nothing has over been urged. When Dr. Bagshawe was Bishop of Nottingham ho got Popo Leo XIII to exalt them to the Monsignori. Cardinal Vnughan, for reasons I do not accurately know, disapproved of tho bestowal of tliis dignity upon them. Ho wroto to Home, and insisted upon the withdrawal of the honours, and tho dignity was taken from them without any reason .being announced. Naturally they were aggrieved—not so much nt not being Monsignori ns at tho indignity of having the Honour taken away after it had been granted. It suggested to peoplo who did not know them well that they must have done something very scandalous indeed. Well, they felt that if this dignity could be bestowed and taken away at will they would like to obtain .tho episcopal dignity• which could not be wrested from them. '1 herofore, as tho Roman Church recognises tho validity of the 'Old Catholic' ordinations; aiid as I havo known.these priests for years, they cttmo to rao and were mado bishops. Then, after the event, they wroto nnd informed the Tope, bo far as I know, tho Pone has not renlicd, but in tho meantime Dr. Brindle, who is now bishop of the diocese, heard what had happened, and issued an order of suspension against them bolt. Jhey, consider that the order is ultra vires, because they rmt tho matter before tho Pope, and if is for him. to announce a decision. It should be understood that they have not left the Soman Catholic Church, though they have taken bishops orders without obtaining tho Popes permission, now it will end I don t know. By minor or lesser excommunication the offomlor is suspended from tho use of the sacraments, nnd perhaps from tho privileges of .Church worship; by' the major or greater excommunication he is nlso cut off from tho society and felbw■liip of the Church, nnd it may bo from nil intercourse with its members.
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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 28 February 1911, Page 6
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929EXCOMMUNICATED. Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 28 February 1911, Page 6
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