Article: MASS DEFIANCE; Excommunication threat as women flout Vatican law & celebrate Holy Eucharist in secret [The Church] holds that it is not admissible to ordain women to the priesthood, for very fundamental reasons. POPE JOHN PAUL II in 1994.(News)

Byline: DECLAN FAHY

TWO women defied the Catholic Church last night by celebrating mass for a private congregation.

Around 30 people who took part in the service now face excommunication for breaching Vatican rules that state only men can carry out the ceremony.

But Soline Vatinel, who led the ceremony at a secret location, said she does not fear the backlash from the Church - and she claimed nuns have secretly performed their own masses for years.

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