Father Leonard Feeney (b. Lynn, Massachusetts 1897-02-18 - d. Ayer, Massachusetts 1978-01-30 )[1] was a U.S. Jesuit priest who defended the strict interpretation of the Roman Catholic doctrine, extra Ecclesiam nulla salus ("outside The Church there is no salvation"), arguing that baptism of blood and baptism of desire are unavailing and that therefore no non-Catholics will be saved.[2][1] He fought against what he perceived to be the liberalization of Catholic doctrine.[1]
On 8 August 1949, the Holy Office sent an official declaration of the meaning of the dogma extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, which Feeney refused to accept.[3] After repeatedly refusing summons to Rome, Feeney was excommunicated on 13 February 1953 by the Holy See for persistent disobedience to legitimate Church authority, and the decree of excommunication was later published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis. His followers maintained that his excommunication was invalid because Fr. Feeney was not given a reason for his summons.[4]
Feeney then set up a community called the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[5] [1] [2] He was reconciled to the Church in 1972, but was not required to retract nor recant his interpretation of extra Ecclesiam nulla salus,[2][1] which is inscribed on his tombstone.
See also
- Feeneyism, a pejorative name for Feeney's theology
- Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the community he founded
References
- ^ a b c d e Neumann, John. "A Latter-Day Athanasius: Father Leonard Feeney". Crusade of Saint Benedict Center, Richmond. http://www.catholicism.org/latter-athanasius.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-22.
- ^ a b c "Feeney Forgiven". Time Magazine. 1974-10-14. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,908875,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-22.
- ^ Letter of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office]
- ^ Michael J. Mazza, Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus: Father Feeney makes a comeback
- ^ "Our History". Sisters of Saint Benedict Center, Still River. http://sistersofstbenedictcenter.org/Our%20History.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-22.
External links
- Saint Benedict Center in Richmond, New Hampshire
- St Benedict Abbey in Still River, Massachusetts
- Saint Benedict Center in Still River, Massachusetts
- documents on the excommunication
 |
This article about the Roman Catholic clergy is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
