Archbishop Dolan gives Kathy Vandenberg a fair heads-up before the excommunication comes through

From CNA:

Milwaukee, Aug. 09, 2006 (CNA) - Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan attempted to reach out to and reason with a Wisconsin woman who recently took part in an invalid attempt at ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood.

In a letter released this Sunday, Archbishop Dolan told parishioners at Kathy Vandenberg’s former church that he was disappointed at the decisions she had made. Vandenberg, the 64 year-old resident of Waukesha, Wisconsin, took part in a small ceremony two weeks ago to protest the Catholic Church’s doctrine on ordination to the priesthood. Vandenberg was drafted by a group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests to join them in reenacting a modified ordination ceremony aboard a boat and declaring themselves Catholic priests.

...

Dolan says that it is now his duty as archbishop to notify the Holy See of Ms. Vandenberg’s decision. “If the past is any guide, I would anticipate that the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith in Rome will soon inform the participants in this exercise that, sadly, they are excommunicated from the Church.” [More...]

I like how Rich Leonardi suggests Dolan's letter to the Holy See could read:

Dear CDF,

Please take the appropriate action in the case of Kathy Sullivan Vandenburg, a sixty-four-year-old member of my diocese under the mistaken impression that she is a Catholic priest.

Cheers,

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

Hehe.

Anyway, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more on Kathy Sullivan Vandenberg's reaction to the news. She is famously quoted as saying, ""Excommunication is simply a punishment. That doesn't mean I'm excluded from the church. Only I can exclude myself."

She goes on to say, "I want to always be respectful of the church and the bishop," she said, "but there are times when you have to be obedient to God and not the bishop."

Oh golly.

Update: Ed Peters will be discussing this issue today on the Drew Mariani Show at 6:15 EST. You can listen live right here.