Letter from Bishop Soto to the Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of Sacramento about Jeremy Leatherby
Dear Friends in Christ:
On September 10, 2020 the Holy Father, Pope Francis, granted the personal request of Fr. Jeremy Leatherby for a return to the lay state and a dispensation from the promise of celibacy. I recently received the communication from the Holy See regarding Pope Francis’s judgment. Mr. Jeremy Leatherby was informed of the Holy Father’s decision on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Mr. Leatherby no longer has any responsibilities or rights proper to the clerical state. The Catholic Faithful are admonished not to participate in Mass or any further sacraments attempted by him.
Due to having incurred excommunication, latae sententiae, (the automatic result of his actions), due to schism, by publicly denying the legitimacy of Pope Francis (cc. 751; 1364), Mr. Leatherby is prayerfully urged to seek reconciliation with the Holy Father and the Church so that he may share in the …