EXCOMMUNICATION OF A NUN.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 35, 16 November 1871, Page 3

EXCOMMUNICATION OF A NUN.

Tiie action taken by Dr. Sliicl, the Roman Catholic Bishop of South Australia, with reference to the excommunication of the Mother Superioress of the Convent _ of St. Joseph, in Adelaide, forms the subject of a leader in the Irish Harp (a South Australian paper) of the 2nd October. The article explains the cause of the disruption, and comments in very strong terms upon the course pursued by the Bishop, who is charged with having “ not only exceeded but abused his powers,” as having been 11 guilty of mortal sin, and as having rendered himself 11 liable to the penalty-ef being deposed.” The facts aie related as follows“ The internal government of the institute -was vested in a chapter, which had the sole power of deciding upon any question which might be raised. In some cases a reference could be made to the Bishop of the diocese, and his decision was held to be final, provided it did not violate the lule of the sisters. During the absence of the director in the other colonies, and at the request of the Bishop, in order that he might establish the institute there on the same footing as it existed in Adelaide, the Right Rev. Dr. Shiel requested the sisters to "accept from him a new rule. Under this rule the institute would have had no central government. Each district house would have been under the individual authority of the local pastor, wherever the sisters might be stationed, and all the rights which the Bishop himself had conceded would have been swept away. The Bishop also wanted the sisters to accept an organisation under which thero would have been different grades in the institute —such as choir nuns, lay sisters,&c. I lhe Bishop’s proposal to the sisters was rejected bv them. They declined either to break their rule or accept any modification of it. The bishop’s advisers visited the mother house and tried every expedient that could suggest itself to them to induce or to compel a compliance with the Bishop’s wishes. They were unsuccessful, and finding at last that the sisters would not submit to an authority which the Bishop did not possess, his Lordship sent the Rev. C. Horan late one night to the convent in Franklin-street to intimate to the sister guardian that she was removed to Bagot’s Gap. She inquired whether she was to .be under the new rule there. She was informed that she was ; and she sent then a respectful intimation to the Bishop that she had better remain among her sisters. She was then informed that, the Bishop intended to excommunicate her. On the following day (22nd ultimo) the Bishop, accompanied by four priests, went to the convent, assembled the sisters, and pronounced the sentence of excommunication against her —thrusting her friendless and alone into the world. Some of the other sisters wished to share in the punishment, but his Lordship confined his severity on that morning to expelling several of the professed sisters and novices, nearly all of them as friendless as their Superioress. He sent them adrift into the world, iu their religious habits, without going through the form or ceremony of dispensing them from their vows. Fortunately they were not altogether without sympathy, and they have been provided for. After this the Bishop visited several of the outer districts, endeavouring to persuade the sisters there to come under his new rule. lie could not succeed. Out of the whole of the sisters, one alone has given way ; the rest adhere to their rule, and are being scattered about the country. The result of all this will be that the whole of the Catholic schools will be broken up, because there cau be no sisters to take charge of them.