Ekskommunikasjonen av teologen p. Tissa Balasuriya opphevet

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 1998 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office announced today that, "on January 15, 1998, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in the presence of Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla and Fr. Marcello Zago, superior general of the O.M.I. (Oblates of Mary Immaculate), the act of reconciliation with the Catholic Church by Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, O.M.I., took place."

Also made public was the "Decree of Reconciliation" from the archbishop of Colombo. Further relative documentation will be published on January 22 in "The Messenger", the archdiocesan publication.

Following is the entire text of that decree, published in English:

"I, Nicholas Marcus Fernando, archbishop of Colombo, in the presence of His Excellency, Most Rev. Osvaldo Padilla, Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka, and Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, today, January 15, 1998 in the Chapel of my residence, received the Profession of Faith from Father Tissa Balasuriya, O.M.I. He used the profession of faith authored by Pope Paul VI in place of the formula prepared for him by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, asserting that both express the same faith of the Church.

"At the same ceremony, Fr. Balasuriya presented me with a Statement of Reconciliation, dated and signed by him. This statement is to be published in the national Catholic newspaper. In this statement he regrets the harm caused by his book, 'Mary and Human Liberation', and by the subsequent events. He also expressed his Catholic faith and recognized the authority of the Magisterium exercised at both the local and universal levels in regard to his writings.

"Concerning the future, Fr. Balasuriya agrees to submit his writing regarding faith and morals to the imprimatur of both the diocesan and religious ordinaries. He also promises to abstain from any declaration that is in contradiction to this reconciliation.

"Since all the conditions indicated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for the reconciliation are now implemented, and with the authorization of the said Congregation, I hereby declare the remission of the excommunication which Fr. Tissa Balasuriya incurred according to the Notification of the same Congregation issued in Rome on January 2, 1997.

"In view of this renewed communion with the Church we rejoice in the Lord and with our brother Tissa Balasuriya, we look forward to a fruitful ministry in the service of the people of God."

OP/RECONCILIATION BALASURIYA/SRI LANKA                         VIS 980119 (420)