Bishop Removed for Unorthodox Views
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VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Friday that it had removed a leading liberal French bishop from his post because of his unacceptable behavior and his public stance on certain issues.
The rare sanction was taken after Msgr. Jacques Gaillot, bishop of Evreux in Normandy since 1982 and dubbed “The Red Cleric,” upset the Roman Catholic hierarchy with his unorthodox views on issues ranging from AIDS to workers’ rights.
A Vatican statement said the 59-year-old bishop had aroused “anxiety and negative reactions” through his “behavior, positions and frequent trips outside the diocese.”
Gaillot has argued for the ordination of married men and has urged tolerance of homosexuals. His stand on these issues is in direct contrast to traditional Roman Catholic doctrine.
Often present at leftist demonstrations, Gaillot has also spoken out against racism and immigration laws and in favor of workers’ rights.
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