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Detroit archbishop fires seminary professors
July 24, 2025
Detroit’s Archbishop Edward Weisenburger has fired two prominent teachers at the archdiocesan seminary, apparently because they had been critical of Pope Francis.
Ralph Martin, a longtime professor at Sacred Heart seminary and a leading figure in the worldwide charismatic renewal; and Eduardo Echeverria, a professor of philosophy and systematic theology, were informed on July 23 that they were fired, effective immediately.
Martin reported that when he asked the archbishop to explain the reason for his action, “he said he didn’t think it would be helpful to give any specifics but mentioned something about having concerns about my theological perspectives.” The Detroit archdiocese declined to comment on the matter.
Both Martin and Echeverria have taught at Sacred Heart seminary for more than twenty years. Both have also published widely in defense of the perennial teachings of the Church. Martin—who is a regular speaker at national and even international Catholic events, as well as the host of the EWTN show “The Choices We Face,” had written in his 2021 book A Church in Crisis that Pope Francis was causing widespread confusion by his ambiguous statements on moral issues. Echeverria had recently posted an essay on The Catholic Thing in which he argued that Pope Francis had undermined Catholic teaching on marriage.
Archbishop Weisenburger, who was appointed by Pope Francis and installed as Archbishop of Detroit in March, quickly generated controversy by announcing that the Traditional Latin Mass would be banned at parish churches in the archdiocese beginning July 1. More recently he joined in a “procession” across the city to protest federal immigration policies. At a previous post, as Bishop of Tucson, he had suggested imposing canonical penalties on Catholic federal agents who enforced the Trump administration’s policies.
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Posted by: miketimmer499385 -
Today 12:27 PM ET USA
I'll be interested to see seminarians' response to this state of affairs. This appears to be very spiteful regardless of their reaction. I haven't been under any delusion though that Pope Leo will do more than offer bromides in the face of a division that is going to last for decades. However, this frankly appears to one-up Francis' removal of Bishop Strickland and demonstrates an elevation of spleen beyond belief. Like Chicago, I'll refrain from venturing into the orbit of Detroit.
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Posted by: Retired01 -
Today 9:57 AM ET USA
Under Detroit's Archbishop, no good deed goes unpunished. But what can you expect from a Francis' appointee. Will this continue under Pope Leo? Is Pope Leo going to be more like JPII/BXVI or more like Francis? That's the BIG QUESTION.
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Posted by: cummingspm6120 -
Today 9:48 AM ET USA
I was concerned with some of the things that the Archbishop has said while he was in Tuscon, but I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. But, now that he has divided the local Church with his mandate on the Latin Mass and now firing two excellent professors who were justified in their opinions regarding Pope Francis, I believe that irreparable damage is being done to the Church in Detroit and that more damaging actions will continue from Archbishop Weisenberger
