Six nuns forced out by Vatican

SIX Catholic nuns have been excommunicated for heresy after refusing to leave a sect whose founder claims to be possessed by the Virgin Mary, a US diocese announced.

Reverend Gaston Hebert, of Little Rock diocese in Arkansas, said he notified the nuns of the decision after they refused to recant the teachings of the Community of the Lady of All Nations, also known as the Army of Mary.

The Vatican has declared all members of the Canadian-based Army of Mary excommunicated.