"Papal Critics Threatened With Excommunication", Said Life Site News. How Many Catholics Have Been Excommunicated In The Last Year For Criticising The Pope ?

Illustration: CLIPART PANDA

Further to the reported News Item, last year (see, below), it would be interesting to ask the question (and, God Willing, get an answer):

HOW MANY CATHOLICS HAVE BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED,

IN THE LAST YEAR,

 FOR CRITICISING THE POPE ?

Let's see how long it is

before an answer is forthcoming

from "relevant authorities".

LAST YEAR'S ARTICLE IS REPRODUCED, HEREWITH.

This story appeared last year in LIFE SITE NEWS

Archbishop Fisichella, President of The Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation.

"Papal critics threatened with Excommunication, as Year of Mercy begins", says Life Site News.

Update: Respected Canonist, Ed Peters, has responded to Archbishop Fisichella's remarks. Read about that here.

December 7, 2015 (Voice of the Family) – Archbishop Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization, has stirred controversy by suggesting that some criticisms of Pope Francis might result in automatic excommunication.

Archbishop Fisichella made his remarks at a Vatican press briefing while explaining how Pope Francis’s new “Missionaries of Mercy” will operate. The 800 “missionaries” will have the power to absolve from penalties previously reserved to the Holy See.

In reference to Canon 1370, which imposes automatic excommunication for “physical violence”against the Roman Pontiif, Archbishop Fisichella said:

I would say that we need to understand well ‘physical violence,’ because sometimes words, too, are rocks and stones, and therefore I believe some of these sins, too, are far more widespread than we might think.

Archbishop Fisichella’s comments will be interpreted by many as an attempt to silence faithful Catholics who are deeply concerned by the direction currently being taken by those who hold offices at the highest levels of the Church.

Read the full Article on this story at LIFE SITE NEWS

Zephyrinus says: It will be most interesting to get to the bottom of this story and find out if the alleged threats are, in fact, real.

Or, will there now be the usual "misunderstood" quotes, allied with "obfuscation", with a heavy dose of "I can't actually recall saying that", etc, etc.

IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL

FOR EVERYBODY IF THIS QUESTION

IS ANSWERED CLEARLY,

QUICKLY, AND HONESTLY.