Excommunicated nun asks Pope for reinstatement

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - Letetia Rawles served as a local nun for decades, offering prayers and help for countless others.

She was kicked out of the Catholic Church after breaking cardinal rules and acting as a priest.

"Yahweh you are my shepherd I want nothing more. You let me lie down in green pastures… in green meadows you lead me beside restful waters," read Rawles.

Psalm 23 is a favorite scripture for Rawles, who likes to simply go as Tish. Before last week, she was a part of the Catholic Church.

Rawles had been a nun for 47 years and wanted to be a priest. She did so with the help of the Association of Roman Catholic Woman Priest and became ordained in April. The problem is that she is a woman, and that is against the rules.

"Women can be priest. It's a man-made law. It's a man-made law the Vatican needs to make some changes on," Rawles said.

Rawles says during her priesthood she stayed under the radar.

"As a catacomb priest means that you don't do anything in public you do things privately," said Rawles.

Privately or publicly, the Catholic Church doesn't recognize her new position. Rawles knew that she could be excommunicated but didn't know it would happen so quickly. Rawls is hoping to be reinstated.

"Pope Frances has declared this coming year as the year of Mercy. So we are requesting from Pope Frances, that all excommunication lifted," Rawles said.

With progressive multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and end stage liver disease, she hopes that prayers she's prayed for others won't be in vain.

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