Mel Gibson has voiced his support for the conservative Catholic archbishop who was just excommunicated by the Vatican.
Last Friday, the Vatican Formally excommunicated The Vatican dismissed Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and found him guilty of schism. The conservative leader, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, is a critic of Pope Francis. Officially, Archbishop Viganò was dismissed for “refusing to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff” and, in particular, for questioning “the legitimacy and pontifical authority of the Second Vatican Council.”
“You are a modern-day Athanasius! I admire your defense of Christ and His Church.”
In the Catholic Church, excommunication is a form of censure that prohibits someone from participating in the sacraments, such as Communion, and from communion with the Church. Excommunication is intended to encourage repentance and can be revoked.
But Viganò doesn’t seem to be repenting.
“I consider the allegations against me an honor,” Viganò said. Said last month.
Hollywood superstar Mel Gibson after the Catholic Church took punitive action against Viganò issued a letter of support he.
“I hope you continue to celebrate Mass and receive the sacraments yourself. It would be a real honor to be shunned by the post-conciliar false church,” Gibson wrote. “I sympathize with you as you suffer this grave injustice so openly. To me and many others, you are a most courageous hero.”
Gibson praised Viganò for pointing out “fundamental problems” within the Catholic Church and, in Gibson’s view, even more importantly, “the illegitimacy of Francis.” Gibson, a Catholic himself, is a separatist, meaning he believes the Holy See is vacant and that the last legitimate pope was Pius XII, who died in 1958. Furthermore, separatists reject the authority of the Second Vatican Council.
Later in the letter, Gibson compares Viganò to Athanasius.
Athanasius was a Christian leader in Egypt in the 4th century. History knows him as a defender of orthodox Christian theology who fought against the Arian heresy. He was exiled multiple times for sticking to the truth.
That’s why, according to Gibson, Viganò should wear his excommunication as a “badge of honor.”
“You are a modern-day Athanasius! I truly admire your defense of Christ and the church,” Gibson wrote.
Life Site News First reported We researched Gibson’s letter and confirmed with Gibson himself that it was authentic.
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