Rev. Leonardo Holtz becomes Catholic priest
Brazilian Novus Ordo Priest ‘Excommunicated’ for becoming Sedevacantist, receiving Ordination
This time it was valid: Fr. Leonardo Holtz after his ordination by Bp. Rodrigo da Silva
News broke the other day that ‘Cardinal’ Orani João Tempesta (b. 1950), who is the Novus Ordo Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has declared one of his former presbyters excommunicated (from the ‘Conciliar’ Church).
The happy soul in question is Fr. Leonardo Holtz Peixoto, who, having become a sedevacantist and rejected the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), was properly ordained a Catholic priest by Bp. Rodrigo da Silva on Nov. 19 (see photo above). For an explanation as to why Fr. Holtz’s original priestly ordination in the Novus Ordo rite for the Vatican II Church was invalid, please see the following post:
‘Cardinal’ Tempesta’s Decree of Excommunication against Fr. Holtz was released on Nov. 29, 2022. A scanned copy of the first page of it was published on Twitter on Dec. 2. Here is a cropped version of that image:
A kind reader from Brazil has volunteered the following English translation of the full decree:
DECREE OF EXCOMMUNICATION
Considering that Father Leonardo Holtz Peixoto, cleric incardinated in the Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, has committed the grave offense of schism (can. 751 CIC), by abandoning the Roman Catholic Church, publicly and notoriously refusing to recognize and be subject to the reigning Roman Pontiff, Pope Francis, and his Archbishop in communion with the See of Peter;
Considering that, in addition to public statements on social media, the said priest, in a formal act of rejection of the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of all Popes since St. John XXIII to the present day, has submitted to a priestly “re-ordination” ceremony for disregarding the validity of the sacrament of Holy Orders according to the Roman Pontifical in force in the Church;
Considering that, as Pastor of this Archdiocese we admonished him in person and in writing in a personal letter not to take such a decision, but that such admonitions had no effect;
Considering the grave public scandal that all these facts of rupture of communion have caused to the faithful, clergy, and laity, which makes necessary the intervention of the authority of the Church;
Given that by such a schismatic act, a member of the faithful incurs the penalty of immediate excommunication, according to Canon 1364 § 1 CIC,
WE DECLARE that the presbyter Leonardo Holtz Peixoto has incurred the penalty of excommunication latae sententiae (by his own act) ex can. 1364 § 1 CIC, for having committed the offense of schism, with the effects and consequences referred to in can. 1331.
Therefore, the said presbyter is forbidden:
1° to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Eucharist and the other sacraments;
2° to receive the sacraments;
3° to administer sacramentals and celebrate other ceremonies of liturgical worship;
4° to take active part in the celebrations listed above;
5° to exercise ecclesiastical offices or charges or ministries or functions;
6° to perform any act of government.
We warn the faithful that they should not participate in any liturgical acts celebrated or meetings promoted by the said priest, the same being irregular to exercise orders previously received, due to the offense of schism (cf. can. 1044 § 1, 2°).
Ordained ministers are to observe what is established in can. 1331 §2, 1°, namely, that an excommunicated priest who intends to take any ministerial part in the celebration of the sacrifice of the Eucharist or in any other ceremonies of worship is to be excluded or have the liturgical action suspended, unless there is a grave cause for this.
The aforesaid censure may be remitted only when the said priest has abandoned his contumacy ex can. 1347 § 2 CIC.
Let us pray to the Lord that Fr. Leonardo Holtz Peixoto will repent of his grave offense and return as soon as possible to full communion with Holy Church. Let him be notified.
Given and passed at the Metropolitan Curia of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, on the 29th day of November of the year of the Grace of Our Lord 2022.
Orani João Cardinal Tempesta
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
Not surprisingly, this news story has found its way even into the secular press:
- CISMA NA IGREJA. Dom Orani Tempesta excomunga padre do Rio que não se submete à autoridade do Papa (Agenda do Poder)
‘Cardinal’ Orani Tempesta
We can be certain that Fr. Holtz hasn’t been terribly impressed with the archlayman’s attempt to excommunicate him. If anything, this “excommunication” is a badge of honor, as it shows that the chief false shepherd of Rio de Janeiro is personally confirming that they are not in communion with each other, nor share the same faith. Bravo!
From the perspective of the Vatican II religion, the act of excommunicating really makes no sense. The false council declared that “all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ’s body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church” (Decree Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 3).
Additionally, “Pope” Francis teaches that God positively wills there to be a diversity of religions; that religious differences are necessary; that the various religions are an “enrichment” to humanity; that even heretics and apostates are part of the Mystical Body of Christ; and that today’s Jews have their own covenant with God.
So where’s the problem? Are we to believe that the “faithless Jews” can have their own way of salvation but Fr. Holtz can’t adhere to the religion revealed by God, which Tempesta himself practiced in his childhood? Are the differences between Holtz and Tempesta not perhaps also “necessary”? Does God will Buddhism and Shintoism but not pre-Vatican II Catholicism? And how come Fr. Holtz isn’t enriching humanity with his religion?
On Nov. 17, the Brazilian web site Controvérsia Católica had published a 90-minute interview with Fr. Holtz regarding his journey to Sedevacantism. The conversation was recorded during a Nov. 12-15 traditionalist conference at which Holtz formally declared his rejection of the Vatican II religion and his recognition of sede vacante. The interview (in Portuguese) can be watched here:
With his public repudiation of the false Novus Ordo religion in favor of genuine Roman Catholicism, Fr. Holtz joins an ever-increasing number of former Novus Ordo priests who have converted. Other individuals who have preceded Holtz in this step include Fr. Michael Oswalt (United States), Fr. Joseph Pham (Vietnam), and Fr. Michael DeSaye (United States).
Let us pray that there will be many more around the world.
Image sources: Facebook (Diogo Rafael Moreira; cropped) / Twitter (@obscat; cropped) / Wikimedia Commons (Pethiagoazevedo; cropped)
Licenses: fair use / fair use / CC BY-SA 4.0
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