Censure and Excommunication
Di Francesca began to preach the teachings from the book during his sermons; he drew large crowds to his sermons preaching new doctrine found in the book. Observing his new popularity, other ministers began to investigate his teachings. On 24 December 1910, the committee of censure held a disciplinary hearing against Di Francesca. They told him to burn the book he had found. He responded with the following words: “I will not burn the book because of the fear of God. I have asked him if it were true, and my prayer was answered affirmatively and absolutely, which I feel again in my soul as I defend his cause now.”
Di Francesca was brought again to the committee of censure in 1914 when he was again asked to burn the book. He again responded: “I can not deny the words of the book nor burn it, since in so doing I would offend God. I looked forward with joy to the time when the church to which the book belonged would be made known to me and I could become part of it.” After saying these words, the council stripped him of his position as pastor of the church.
Read more about this topic: Vincenzo Di Francesca
Famous quotes containing the word censure:
“What satire on government can equal the severity of censure conveyed in the word politic, which now for the ages has signified cunning, intimating that the state is a trick?”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)