Letter: Fr. Tim Ryan's affidavit is a public statement made under oath. By making an oath, a person calls upon God to witness the truth of what he says. Under oath, Fr. Ryan asserted that he is "an active member in good standing of the Scarborough Foreign Mission Society."

Canon law lays out several causes - "provided they are grave, external, imputable, and juridically proven" - for dismissal of a person from a religious order. Among them are: "habitual neglect of the obligations of consecrated life; repeated violations of the sacred bonds; obstinate disobedience to the lawful orders of Superiors in grave matters; grave scandal arising from the culpable behaviour of the member; obstinate attachment to, or diffusion of, teachings condemned by the Magisterium of the Church; public adherence to materialistic or atheistic ideologies" (can. 696).

The affidavit meets all four of the requirements: it is juridically proven because it is already a civil court document; it is external and imputable because it is in the public forum and is a consciously chosen act voluntarily made under oath; it is grave because it opposes the teaching of the Magisterium in grave matter and is known to do so by the swearer of the affidavit as the affidavit itself makes clear in its last paragraph.

Needless to say, a person who manifests any cause of dismissal would not be allowed entry to a religious community in the first place. To my mind, remaining "in good standing" would mean, at the very least, not taking a position or executing an act which would be cause for dismissal. Yet Fr. Ryan asserted he is "an active member in good standing" of the SFMS. May God witness to the truth of what he said.

Toronto, ON