Australian pundit says Pope had no right to remove dissident bishop

February 01, 2012

An Australian judge has written that Pope Benedict XVI violated “natural justice” when he removed Bishop William Morris from leadership in the Toowoomba diocese.

Judge W. J. Carter’s finding was contained in an “independent report”—that is, an opinion released without reference to any judicial case.

In an overwrought editorial on the same topic, the Sydney Morning Herald compared the removal of Bishop Morris—who had expressed public dissent from Church teachings—with the Inquisition, claiming that “only the rack is missing.” After some discussion, the editorial concluded that actually the Toowoomba case was worse than the Inquisition.

 

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Further information:

• Pope 'wrong' in sacking Queensland bishop (The Age)
• Inquisition's heavy hand remains read to strike (Sydney Morning Herald)