NCR: Bourgeois’ dismissal came after two years of dialogue, says Maryknoll

WOC was featured in this article about Father Roy Bourgeois’, the priest who openly and publicly supports women’s ordination.

Bourgeois’ dismissal came after two years of dialogue, says Maryknoll
By Joshua J McElwee

The decision to threaten Fr. Roy Bourgeois with dismissal from Maryknoll, and subsequent laicization by the Vatican, came about after two and a half years of lengthy dialog between the SOA Watch founder and his order, say Bourgeois and Maryknoll superior general Fr. Edward Dougherty.

Bourgeois, a longtime peace activist, yesterday received a letter dated March 18 notifying him of possible dismissal from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. It gives him 15 days to "publicly recant" his support of women’s ordination before the order will forward his case to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith "with a request for laicization."

Speaking to NCR by phone immediately after receiving the letter yesterday, Bourgeois said he had been in several meetings with Dougherty over the past two and a half years, with the last coming at the Maryknoll offices in New York the same day the dismissal letter is dated.

While Bourgeois said he told Dougherty he could not, "in good conscience," recant his support of women’s ordination at their last meeting, the peace activist said he tried to recognize in their discussion that "we are all in different places." 

To read more, click here .