Holy See Press Office declaration on dismissal of nun in France

By Vatican News

In response to questions from reporters, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed on Saturday that the Secretariat of State has sent a “Note Verbale” to the Embassy of France to the Holy See.

The diplomatic communication regards the “alleged decision of the Tribunal of Lorient in France in a civil dispute concerning the dismissal from a religious Institute of Ms. Sabine de la Valette (formerly Sister Marie Ferréol).”

Mr. Bruni highlighted that the Holy See learned this information “only from the press.”

It was also emphasized that Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who at the time of the event was Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, “never received any summons from the Lorient Tribunal.”

The Press Office Director stated that the Cardinal “did indeed conduct an apostolic visitation to the Institute of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit (Dominicaines du Saint Esprit), in compliance with a pontifical mandate; following this visitation, a series of canonical measures were taken against Ms. Sabine de la Valette, including her dismissal from the religious institute.”

“A potential ruling from the Lorient Tribunal,” concluded the Director of the Holy See Press Office, “could raise not only significant issues concerning immunity, but if it ruled on internal discipline and membership in a religious institute, it might have constituted a serious violation of the fundamental rights to religious freedom and freedom of association of Catholic faithful.”