Fr. Roy Bourgeois, best known for his work to close the School of the Americas, concelebrated and preached at the ordination of Rev. Janice Sevre-Duszynska on August 9th. According to the National Catholic Reporter, he met with his religious community today and received a "canonical warning" for participating in a women's ordination ceremony. His community has sent a report to the Vatican from whom he could receive a harsher penalty, but for now he is just receiving a warning. Bourgeois spoke of his actions as an act of conscience. And like his actions towards the closing of the School of the Americas, his participation was a stand against injustice.
I applaud Fr. Roy's heroic stance that could affect his work against the School of the Americas. It resonates with King's decision to address the Vietnam War when others were concerned it may affect his effectiveness for civil rights. Thank God for priests like Fr. Roy who are willing to face repercussions from the United States as well as the Vatican in the name of justice.
A Faithful Catholic
4 comments:
Poor fellow. Mal-formed in the Sem, never watched carefully by a competent and orthodox superior--
Hardly his fault, eh?
Excommunicated priest via the Church position on women's ordination and its automatic (latae sentitae) excommunication.
His order must interpret that document differently.
If I am not mistaken, religious orders cannot excommunicate. That is left to the Bishop. Orders can expel.
As for whether or not they do anything, the excommunication is accomplished automatically by the rebel priests actions. He has excommunicated himself and that fact requires no further clarification.
Just as someone who denies the Divinity of Christ is no longer a Christian, there is not necessarily a public statement of that fact, it is a fact known but to God.
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