Thomas Fouhy

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Thomas Maria Fouhy, a deceased laicised priest was born in 1908. He was a former member of the Society of Mary, and was ordained in 1943. Fouhy died on August 8, 2007.

1 Laicisation
2 Letter about his situation
3 Traditionalist
4 Last Years

[edit] Laicisation

In 1969, he applied for laicisation. Later that year, his request not yet granted, he contracted a civil marriage with a widow, Mrs. Jacqueline Lorraine Grant, thereby incurring automatic excommunication.

Fouhy's marriage took place before his petition was granted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

[edit] Letter about his situation

Thomas Stafford Williams' (retired conciliar cardinal of Wellington, New Zealand) letter of May 17, 1984 regarding Fouhy:

Dear Father, I am happy to reply to the questions you asked in your letter of 25 April, which Bishop Denis Browne of Auckland has passed on to me. Thomas Condon Fouhy was ordained priest in Wellington on 30 November 1943 In 1969 he applied for laicisation In July 1969, without dispensation, he married in a civil ceremony in the Registry Office in the town of Bulls, New Zealand, a Mrs. Jacqueline Lorraine Grant, the mother of two children, a widow since June 1967 On 13 March, 1970, the petition for laicisation was granted by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Prot. N. 1908/69. The laicisation was notified to him at Te Puke in 1970. I have heard that the marriage, a civil one only, was terminated by divorce. Thomas Fouhy travelled overseas after separating from his wife, and has sought to minister as a Tridentine Rite priest in Scotland, England and the United States. I would be astonished if the Tridentine Rite hierarchy were unaware of Thomas Fouhy's sad history. Certainly Archbishop Lefebvre was informed of it by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, England, on 5 June 1978. The Apostolic See, I am certain, has never readmitted him to priestly ministry. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if further information is required. With all warm best wishes, Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus, (Signed) Archbishop of Wellington (His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Williams)

[edit] Traditionalist

Later, he divorced Grant and began to function as a priest again in the traditionalist movement, without any permission of his ordinary bishop or the Vatican. In reparation for his marriage he carried a cross around New Zealand. He travelled to England, Scotland and the United States. Fouhy became acquainted with Bishop George Musey, being appointed his vicar general.

He was the author of "The Challenge of Truth" and also wrote a booklet entitled "Plain Speaking". He authored an open letter to the Bishops and Priests of New Zealand in 1986.

[edit] Last Years

Later, he spent time at Mount Saint Michael in Spokane, Washington. He returned to New Zealand and said Mass at his home until he required full time care. He was consecrated by Jean-Gérard Roux in late 1993. He died of natural causes at Wanganui, New Zealand.