May 6, 2004

Notification Concerning Father C. William Hausen: Text of Notification

The Vicar for Canonical Services, the Very Reverend Lawrence A. DiNardo, VE, JCL, has issued the following Notification regarding the canonical status of the Reverend C. William Hausen and the Christ Hope Ecumenical Catholic Church.

On May 4, 2004, a decree was issued declaring that the Reverend C. William Hausen, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, has incurred an automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church for celebrating liturgical and sacramental rites at his newly formed Christ Hope Ecumenical Catholic Church, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, having refused all offers of reconciliation extended by the Diocesan Bishop.

Please be advised that this newly established church is not recognized or sanctioned either by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh or the Apostolic See and therefore is a schismatic church. A schismatic church is one that refuses submission to the authority of the Holy Father or communion with the members of the Church that are subject to him and in particular the Diocesan Bishop. The Christian Faithful need to know that free and willful participation in this church implies separation from the Catholic Church. This is a serious matter that no one should take upon himself or herself lightly.

As previously noted, this notification is to assist Catholics in understanding that they cannot participate in the newly established Christ Hope Ecumenical Catholic Church and be considered members in good standing of the Catholic Church.