Roy Bourgeois, a longtime peace activist and priest who had come under scrutiny for his support of women's ordination, has been dismissed from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, which he served for 45 years, according to the congregation.
The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith made the dismissal in October, according to a news release issued Monday afternoon by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.
Fr Roy is a homeboy, originally from nearby Lutcher, Louisiana. Although we've never met, I've long admired him. His words on my sidebar inspired me to speak out for justice and equality over the years.
"Silence is the voice of complicity."
He had no previous notice that the dismissal was coming, according to canon lawyer, Fr Tom Doyle.
"The idea then was that things would continue and they would not dismiss
Roy and they would continue to dialogue," Doyle said. "And then this
just happened, unilaterally. [Bourgeois] had no idea."
Fr Roy was given the opportunity to recant, but he refused.
"In essence, you are telling me to lie and I say I do not believe God
calls both men and women to the priesthood," Bourgeois wrote in a formal
reply to Maryknoll's request. "This I cannot do, therefore I will not
recant."
Further biographical information on Fr Roy may be found at SOA Watch.
