THE Pope acted against natural justice and the Catholic Church's own canon law when he sacked Bill Morris as Bishop of Toowoomba last May, two expert independent reports have found.
Queensland Supreme Court judge W.J. Carter found that Bishop Morris was denied procedural fairness and natural justice, and that his treatment was ''offensive'' to the requirements of both civil and canon (church) law.
He wrote about one unsigned Vatican letter to the bishop that ''one could not imagine a more striking case of a denial of natural justice''.
His conclusion was endorsed by a leading Australian canon lawyer, Melbourne's Father Ian Waters, whose report was made public last week.
He found that Pope Benedict breached canon law and exceeded his authority in removing Bishop Morris without finding him guilty of apostasy, heresy or schism and without following the judicial procedures canon law requires.
Bishop Morris was sacked by the Pope after refusing to resign when requested to do so by three cardinals, the heads of important Vatican departments, who considered that his leadership was ''defective''.
He never saw the charges against him, nor had a chance to defend himself.
Both reports were commissioned by Bishop Morris' supporters in Toowoomba.
Justice Carter listed 14 points where Bishop Morris was deprived of natural justice and due process, and writes that the Vatican showed ''an appalling lack of evidence and particularity'', ''demonstrable errors of fact'' and decisions ''by high-ranking church officials more likely based on gossip and hearsay'' than evidence.
Bishop Morris had strong support from his diocese, especially the Toowoomba Diocese Leadership Group, comprising the diocesan council, the heads of every Catholic agency and all but three priests.
All wrote letters supporting the bishop to the Vatican, but had no response.
Toowoomba Leadership Group spokesman Father Ray Crawley said they had sent the two reports to all bishops and to the Vatican.