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.

At a news conference, Hebert said the nuns “became entranced and deluded with a doctrine that is heretical”. He said the sect’s members believe that its founder, 86-year-old Marie Paule Giguere, is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary and that God speaks directly through her.

Sr Mary Theresa Dionne, 82, one of the nuns excommunicated, said: “We are at peace and we know that for us we are doing the right thing.”

Father Eric Roy, a spokesman for the Army of Mary, called the excommunications an injustice. He said Giguere did not claim reincarnation. However he said she received “special graces” from God and the Virgin Mary “took possession of her soul”.