Bishop James Power of Superior, Wisconsin issued a public rebuke to Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the former apostolic nuncio to the US, after he challenged the sanctity of his diocese’s Chrism Mass.
Viganò, in a post on social media, called the inclusion of a dance by indigenous women a “shamanic ceremony” and a “very serious sacrilege”. Viganò claimed Power was “not a successor of the Apostles”, among other things.
Bishop Power accused Viganò of “public defamation” and a “violation of my right to a good name and reputation”.
“It has long been a tradition in the Diocese of Superior to honour the heritage of our Native Americans before major diocesan celebrations,” Power noted.
“In fact, this tradition was carried out at my own ordination and installation as Bishop of Superior. Archbishop Viganò was present for that ceremony and has never in the last eight years expressed any concerns about that ceremony in which he participated as apostolic nuncio.”
Bishop Power added that “this kind of rhetoric brings harm to the faithful entrusted to my care” and asked for a public apology.
Power also sought “clarification” about reports of Viganò “allegedly ordaining Bryan Wallman and sending Bryan Walman [sic] (aka Fr Ambrose) and Rebekah Siegler (aka Sr Tecla) to the Diocese of Superior to operate without episcopal approval”.
Power noted: “Without proof of a valid ordination to the priesthood, Bryan Wallman is putting the spiritual lives of some of my people in danger. By establishing a so-called ‘hermitage’ within the Diocese of Superior without my approval these individuals give a further veneer of authenticity to their actions.”
He asked Viganò to cease any activities he might be involved in regarding the Walman and Siegler. Power had issued a warning about the hermitage to his diocese in February.
Viganò has repeatedly challenged legitimate ecclesial authority since being removed as nuncio to the US in 2016.
When sex abuse revelations emerged regarding the now-defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Viganò called for Pope Francis to resign although it had been St Pope John Paul II who had promoted McCarrick, finally making him a cardinal in 2001. Viganò has indulged conspiracy theories about the vaccine mandates and freemasonry in posts on social media.
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