Proponent of women's ordination loses teaching post at Jesuit university

CWN - March 08, 2012

Boston College has declined to renew the teaching assignment of Father John Shea, after the priest wrote to Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley saying that he saw no reason why the Church should not ordain women to the priesthood.

Supporters of Father Shea have charged that he was denied a new appointment in the School of Theology and Ministry because of his unorthodox views. Officials at Boston College deny that the adjunct professor’s views on women’s ordination were a factor in his departure; they say that the school has chosen to give the post to a full-time professor who will have an opportunity for tenure. A number of other professors at the Jesuit-run institution are noteworthy for their public dissent from Church teachings.

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Show 3 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: Salome - Mar. 09, 2012 3:17 AM ET USA

    When I saw the headline I thought, 'wow, NEWS!' Then I read the story. Non-renewal had nothing to do with promotion of heretical sacramental disorder. Move along folks, business as usual with the Jesuits, nothing to see.

  • Posted by: frjpharrington3912 - Mar. 09, 2012 12:23 AM ET USA

    In ancient Israel a man from the tribe of Levi was a priest by the simple fact that God had selected Levi from among the twelve tribes to serve as priests for his people. As Blessed JPII's wrote in his Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, the male priesthood remains the tradition of the Church because, as in the Old Testament, it is the expressed will of God personified in Jesus Christ who instituted the sacramental priesthood at the Last Supper when he conferred it on his apostles.

  • Posted by: impossible - Mar. 08, 2012 7:32 PM ET USA

    Gee, he must be the tip of a huge iceberg there.

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