Should Bishop Gaillot have been sacked?

BRUCE KENT (Charterhouse Chronicle, 24 February) calls the summary dismissal of Bishop Gaillot a scandal. He is right. The dismissal is at odds with Vatican II's theology of bishops, and with natural justice.
Disappointed at the absence of protest, Mr Kent goes on to ask, "where is the comment from our own ranks...We have a silence which damages the Church". There will be an opportunity for informed comment at a meeting in London on 16 September. On that day, a large number of renewalist organisations, which up to now have been working separately on various but related issues, will come together to look at the situation in the Churches, and the ways forward. Many of these groups have, like Bishop Gaillot, been marginalised by the official churches.
John Challenor Cardiff IN RELIEVING Bishop Jacques Gaillot of his See, the Vatican was not guilty of an abrupt dismissal of the controversial bishop, as Bruce Kent suggests.
The Vatican had in fact, been involved in a long discussion with Bishop Gaillot, urging him to remain in unity with the French episcopate.
Theologically we need to recall that a bishop, once legitimately ordained, is inserted into the College of Bishops and is thus able to exercise, in an authoritative way, the Church's mission to teach.
In expressing opinions contrary to the ordinary magisterium of the College, united to its head, Bishop Gaillot undermined both the unity of the College and the right of the faithful to hear the word of God in all its integrity.
Rev Richard Barren Bedford BRUCE Kiasrr WRITES that the removal of Bishop Gaillot from his Sec is a scandal. Not so. The scandal is that he was allowed to remain so long.
The dismissal of the bishop was not a summary action, as claimed by Bruce Kent, but came after attempts over ten years by the Vatican and the French Bishops Conference to reason with him.
Sean Moran Dublin