Jean Laborie

Jean Joseph Emile Laborie (16 November 1919 – 25 June 1996) was a French bishop of an independent Catholic church, the Latin Old Catholic Church in Toulouse. His early life is largely unknown, but he had little involvement in religion. The date of his ordination is controversial; a traditionalist, he rejected the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, and became active in religious activities outside of the Roman Catholic Church. He was a schismatic bishop not recognized by Catholic authorities, despite his attempts.

Catholic authorities warned to the press that he was unrecognized by the Vatican. Laborie was part of the Thuc line of independent bishops, with Thuc having consecrated him in 1977. He was sometimes controversial, with his movement having some fund scandals. Notoriously, he ordained Luc Jouret to the priesthood; Jouret was the leader of the Order of the Solar Temple who would later go on to orchestrate mass murder and suicide in the 1990s.