Prominent Catholics urge bishops, cardinals to declare Francis has ‘lost the papal office’ if he refuses to resign.."Francis’ 'record of protecting sexual abusers which 'exemplifies his character and modus operandi.' The signatories accuse Francis of committing 'crimes other than heresy'"

Prominent Catholics urge bishops, cardinals to declare Francis has ‘lost the papal office’ if he refuses to resign

The seventeen signatories comprise a mixture of academics, activists in various spheres of ecclesial life, and one priest: 

• Rev. Linus F. Clovis, Ph. D., MSc, JCL, STB
• Yves Daoudal: Editor-in-chief of Reconquête and Vice-President of the Charlier Center
• Dániel Fülep: Theologian, Hungary
• Maria Guarini: Editor, Chiesa e post concilio
• Michael Kakooza, Ph. D.: Strategic Management, Eastern Africa
• Thaddeus J. Kozinski, Ph. D.: Professor of Philosophy, Memoria College
• Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph. D.
• John R.T. Lamont, DPhil
• John Rist, Ph. D.: Professor of Classics and early Christian Philosophy and Theology (ret.)
• Dr Cesar Felix Sánchez Martínez: Professor of Philosophy, Universidad Nacional de San Agustin, Peru
• Wolfram Schrems, Mag. theol., Mag. phil.
• Peter Stephan, Dr. phil. habil: Professor of Architecture Theory & Art History, University of Applied Sciences, Potsdam
• Anna Silvas, Ph. D.: Specialist in Greek Fathers, UNE, Australia (ret.)
• John-Henry Westen, M.A.: Founder and Editor, LifeSiteNews
• Michael Wiitala, Ph. D.: Associate Lecturer in Philosophy, Cleveland State University
• Elizabeth F. Yore, Esq.: Founder, Yore Children
• John Zmirak, Ph. D.: Senior Editor, The Stream

The lengthy statement presents a summary of his interactions and dealings with a number of high-profile figures in the Church, such as Cardinals Godfried Danneels, Reinhard Marx, Theodore McCarrick, Wilton Gregory, and Víctor Manuel Fernández. The extensive list of individuals presented by the signatories, they state, is part of Francis’ “record of protecting sexual abusers” which “exemplifies his character and modus operandi.” 

The signatories accuse Francis of committing “crimes other than heresy,” attesting that the actions listed are “crimes because they violate either canon law, the law of temporal states, the natural law, divine positive law, or some combination of laws from these different legal systems.”