The leader of a Catholic sect on the New South Wales south coast has refused
to recognise a decree issued by the Vatican outlawing the movement.
The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong has issued the decree, ordering William Cann
to renounce the Order of Saint Charbel.
The order was set up at Nowra in 1984, but has never been officially recognised
by the church.
Its leader, William Cann, calls himself Little Pebble and believes he will one
day be Pope.
He says the decree has not been issued by the Pope himself, so he will not take
any notice of it.
"The Pope hasn't said anything," he said.
"That only comes from a body within the church and I have made an appeal
already to Rome and the appeal has not been acknowledged yet, already for two
years."
Wollongong Catholic Bishop Peter Ingham says the decree reflects the
long-standing position of the diocese and is a clear message to Catholics.
"Now people can then make their own judgment, but what they haven't had
perhaps until now is such a clear statement by the Church and endorsed by the
Vatican," he said.