A Victorian Catholic priest who spoke out against the church's positions on gay marriage and women becoming priests has been defrocked and excommunicated.
Former Western Port parish priest Greg Reynolds was this week presented with a letter from the Vatican, informing him that he had been removed from the priesthood and excommunicated from the church.
Mr Reynolds said he first fell out of favour three years ago when he voiced his support for women being allowed to become priests, contrary to the church's official stance.
He resigned from his parish in 2011, and started a group called Inclusive Catholics, which holds regular meetings in Melbourne.
Mr Reynolds has also spoken out in favour of gay marriage.
He said he had expected to be removed from the priesthood, but had not expected to be excommunicated.
"I'm a bit annoyed, if not angry, at the process or lack of process," Mr Reynolds told AAP on Saturday.
A spokesman for the Melbourne Archdiocese said the excommunication was ordered by Pope Francis.
The spokesman said the excommunication was ordered because of Mr Reynolds' public teaching about women being ordained, as well as holding communion when he was not authorised to act as a priest.
Mr Reynolds said he plans to continue his work with Inclusive Catholics, but was undecided about whether he will fight to have the excommunication overturned.
