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Catholic World News News Feature

Father Fessio fired at Ave Maria March 21, 2007

Father Joseph Fessio, SJ, has been abruptly dismissed as provost of Ave Maria University in Florida.

Father Fessio, the founder of Ignatius Press and publisher of Catholic World Report*, was asked to submit his resignation on March 21, and ordered to leave the Florida campus immediately. No public explanation of his dismissal has been offered.

Ave Maria University was founded in 2003 with a heavy infusion of funds by Thomas Monaghan; the former owner of Domino’s Pizza, pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to the effort to build a solidly orthodox new Catholic university on the new Florida campus.

Father Fessio-- a former student and longtime friend of Pope Benedict XVI-- had been instrumental in recruiting Catholic scholars for the faculty and in providing reliable spiritual direction for the school’s students. His name regularly appeared on fundraising letters for the young and growing institution, and his sudden departure raises questions about the overall future direction of Ave Maria University. News of his departure prompted demonstrations by students on the school’s campus Wednesday afternoon.

*- Note: Catholic World News is edited by Phil Lawler, who was once the editor of Catholic World Report, for which Father Fessio remains the publisher. Although friendly ties remain, there is no institutional connection between CWN and the monthly magazine.