Burke declares St. Louis women who were ordained as priests excommunicated

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two St. Louis women who were ordained as priests in an organization called Roman Catholic Womenpriests are now declared excommunicated by Archbishop Raymond Burke.

Rose Marie Hudson and Elsie Hainz McGrath were ordained in November, though the process is not recognized by the church, which does not ordain women as priests.

A "Declaration of Excommunication" letter was delivered to the women Wednesday night. Burke also declared the woman who led Hudson's and McGrath's ordinations excommunicated. She is Patricia Fresen, who is now a Roman Catholic Womenpriests bishop living in Germany.

Hudson and McGrath say in a statement that they reject the penalties of excommunication and any other punitive actions from church officials.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com