Excommunicated priest will not recant; faces expulsion from Maryknoll order
April 08, 2011
A Maryknoll priest who was excommunicated for participating in the attempted ordination of a woman now faces dismissal from his religious order because he refuses to alter his stand.
Father Roy Bourgeois incurred the penalty of excommunication in August 2008, when he preached at a ceremony organized by “Roman Catholic Womanpriests” at which a woman claimed priestly ordination. In March of this year, his Maryknoll superiors said that if he did not submit to the teachings of the Church, they would seek his formal removal from the order and laicization. For the past 2 years, the radical priest has said consistently that he will not change his views. With the deadline for his final reply approaching, Father Bourgeois said: “I cannot do it.”
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Further information:
- Father Bourgeois: ‘I Can’t Recant’ (National Catholic Register)
- Maryknoll order threatens to expel priest who promotes women's ordination (CWN, 3/30)
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Posted by: Obregon -
Apr. 10, 2011 3:29 PM ET USA
What else is new? It takes an order lots of time to do something about a recalcitrant priest and then we are surprised when a rebel priest refuses to obey?
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Posted by: -
Apr. 09, 2011 2:21 PM ET USA
Non serviam dico vobis!
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Posted by: -
Apr. 09, 2011 7:48 AM ET USA
Fr. Bourgeois is providing a living example of the consequences of making an idol of one's own will: hardness of heart. We've all been there, and typically are still there in some aspect of our lives. We need to pray for him.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 08, 2011 6:28 PM ET USA
2 years? 2 years! And even that was after how long in less in-your-face dissent? Well, I guess the real issue is the priest, and not those he's misleading. No need for quick action: it is only souls at stake...
