See also Iglesia Descalza for article in English
Dr Martha Heizer and her husband, Gerd, will no longer be able to receive Communion at Mass in the Roman Catholic Church because they and their group celebrated the Eucharist together without a Ministerial Priest being present.
There are a variety of opinions within the We Are Church movement about this and so response has been left to individual national groups.
Many We Are Church groups agreed with the press release of Noi Siamo Chiesa which was translated into English, German, French, Spanish
Wir sind Kirche Austria - Vertrauen für Martha Heizer grosse Richtungsdiskussion angesagt
Wir sind Kirche Deutschland - Zur Exkommunikation durch Bischof Scheuer
Wir sind Kirche Austria - Martha remains in the Chair
We Are Church Ireland - Support for Martha Heizer
0gså vi er kirken, Norway - Sad News
We Are Church - France - Soutien à Martha et Gert Heizer suite à la décision d’excommunication
Vi är kyrka - Sweden - FÖR VÄKS HEMSIDA
Katolsk Vision - Sweden - Excommunication clarifies the differences of opinion within Wir sind Kirche movements
Vi Er 0gså Kirken, Denmark - A commentary on excommunication of Martha Heizer
Nous Sommes aussi l'Eglise, France - La présidente du mouvement international Nous Sommes Eglise excommuniée
We Are Also Church, South Africa - Statement regarding the excommunication of Martha Heizer.
For All Eternity - Statement by Dr Thomas Plankensteiner, founding Chairman of We Are Church in Austria.
Commentary by Dr Paul Collins (Catholica)
Statement by the Austrian Priests' Initiative [German] [English] [Spanish]
Excomunión a la responsable del movimiento «Somos Iglesia»
Excomulgados por celebrar sin cura la Cena del Señor
Excommuniés pour avoir célébré la messe sans prêtre
¿Celebrar la Eucaristía sin un sacerdote?
CDF Excommunicates Head of Austrian Reform Group: Charge of celebrating illicit "private Eucharists"
„Wir sind Kirche“: Martha Heizer bleibt Vorsitzende | Tiroler Tageszeitung Online
On Tuesday afternoon (June 10, 2014) the steering committee of the Austrian Plattform Wir sind Kirche had a meeting and they all agreed that Martha will continue to be Chair of Wir sind Kirche Austria despite of her excommunication. In October they will have an extraordinary plenary meeting about the future course of Wir sind Kirche Austria
VERTRAUEN FÜR MARTHA HEIZER GROSSE RICHTUNGSDISKUSSION ANGESAGT
Zur Exkommunikation durch Bischof Scheuer
Excomunión a la responsable del movimiento «Somos Iglesia»
Excomulgados por celebrar sin cura la Cena del Señor
Excommuniés pour avoir célébré la messe sans prêtre
¿Celebrar la Eucaristía sin un sacerdote?
Commentary by Dr Paul Collins (Catholica)
Statement by the Austrian Priests' Initiative [German] [English] [Spanish]
Commentary by Dr. Thomas Plankensteiner, the founding chairman of the platform "We are Church" in Austria, on the excommunication of Martha and Gert Heizer (Tiroler Tageszeitung, 30 May 2014)
For a week there has been an intense debate about the excommunication of Martha Heizer, the co-ordinator of IMWAC. In this context I can think of a parable of Jesus:
At that time, the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him, "Rabbi ! Here is a woman who has illegally celebrated the Eucharist without a priest in her house. We have an old law and according to that law only men may be ordained as priests to celebrate the Eucharist. That's why she deserves a severe punishment. What do you say?"
The Pharisees wanted to set him a trap.
Jesus responded with a parable : "In a country the rulers passed a law that forbade women to help the sick. For a long time the people complained that this law was unfair and violated human rights. But the rulers remained deaf and reaffirmed the law, saying that this law will apply for all eternity. Then there came a woman who could no longer put up with this injustice and began to help the sick, knowing that she thus transgressed a law. I ask you now: Who carries the greater blame ? That woman or the rulers who clung to an unjust and inhumane law?"
Then the Pharisees were silent and went away with downcast faces.
Dr. Thomas Plankensteiner was the Initiator of the Church Referendum in 1995
We reject the Decree says the spokesman for We are Church (Italy)
Martha Heizer and her husband Gerd gathered at home to celebrate the Eucharist together with some other people in ways similar to those which have been long practiced by base communities, i.e. without a canonically accredited Ministerial Priest. At the same time, as far as we know, they continued to be active in support of their parish. In this way they have attempted to be consistent with the practice and teaching of Jesus to make the Gospel more accessible and better understood by all.
This is the way the Church will go in the future by calling on the so-called viri probati (and mulieres probatae) to enable all the baptised, the People of God, to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist. In many situations in the world, for example in Latin America, where a Priestly presence is only available occasionally, things are moving in this direction. The Bishop of the Amazon Diocese in Brazil has recently discussed this with Pope Francis and has been heard.
That being said, we believe that Cardinal Müller (Prefect of former Holy Office), knowing that Martha Heizer is the Chairperson of the International Movement We Are Church and, a few weeks ago elected to the Chair of We Are Church (Austria), has "used" this matter to indirectly but very strongly attack the new direction of Pope Francis and the essential reforms which he is proposing. This action leaves us with no other interpretation as it moves against the Chairperson of the main movement which has been committed to the reform of the Catholic Church in line with the Second Vatican Council for many years. The International Movement We Are Church upholds the message of the new Bishop of Rome with conviction. The Decree against Martha has been delayed for three years, and seemed abandoned. It is resurrected now when the support for change in the Church in gaining strength.
"Noi Siamo Chiesa " rejects the decree of former Holy Office of the Inquisition and empathizes with Martha and Gerd. It stands with them in the Church, despite the protestations of those who claim to protect the faith but instead only protect the institution’s Canon Law
Rome, May 22, 2014 Vittorio Bellavite, spokesman for "Noi Siamo Chiesa"
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