Fr. Roy Bourgeois Openly Defies the Church: Are Laicization and Expulsion Next?

4/1/2011

(Page 2 of 2)

Venerable John Paul II released an apostolic letter, addressed to the Bishops of the Catholic Church entitled "On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis) It is a very short, succinct affirmation of the clear teaching of the Catholic Church and should be read by every Catholic - and any other Christian - who wants to understand the who, what, where and why of this entire question. There is no room for dissent, debate or disagreement on it. The letter ends with these words:

"Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church's judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.

"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful."

The arguments against this clear and authoritative teaching sometimes come from people who do not understand that the priesthood is not a job and have succumbed to the "rights" mentality of the current age. Other times they come from people who have no understanding of the sacramental nature of the Church. Both groups may include among them Catholics who, as in too many other areas of doctrine, have not been properly catechized. However, there are those who know the teaching and its authoritative nature but have willfully chosen to publicly dissent and lead others astray. Sadly, that has been the defiant approach taken by Fr Roy Bourgeois.

Now, the Superiors of the Maryknoll Religious community have issued Fr Roy Bourgeois a Canonical Warning of his pending expulsion from the Religious Order. It contained these words: "Since the September 27, 2008 letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was received we have been in communication with you via letter, and at least two meetings where you were ordered to recant your public views on the ordination of women priests and clearly told not to participate in their meetings and public events. You were Excommunicated Latae Senteniae reserved to the Apostolic See because after a canonical warning by the Society in 2008 you failed to recant within the stated 30 days from contumacy and disregard for the Magisterium of the Church on the matter of women's ordination (of. 1347 CIC).

"According to our documentation, you continued to speak publicly in favor of women's ordination in disobedience to the explicit instructions of your Superiors and recently participated (Feb. 12, 2011) in a panel of speakers following the showing of the film "Pink Smoke over the Vatican" at Barnard College in New York City.

"Sufficient time has now passed for you to consider the gravity of the matter. You are hereby asked one final time by the Superior General and his Council to publicly recant and accept the teaching of the Church on this serious matter concerning priestly ordination and the explicit teaching of the Church. If you fail to comply within fifteen (15) days of receipt of this first canonical warning, I will issue a second canonical warning.

"If you fail to respond to the second canonical warning, I will proceed with dismissal by submitting evidence of your contumacy as a priest who publicly rejects the teaching of the Holy Father (C. 1371), also a priest who acted illegitimately in "communic�tio in sacris"-such as participation in an invalid ordination ceremony of a woman (C. 1384). "Concelebrating" Mass with women analogous to simulation of the Eucharist (C. 1379), giving scandal to the Christian faithful in a serious mailer over a two-year period (C.1399) and Disobedience to the instructions and warnings of your legitimate Superiors and the Apostolic See (C. 601; Mk Const. 40). The dismissal will be submitted to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for confirmation with a request for laicization."

We ask our readers around the world to pray for Fr Roy Bourgeois. Ask the Lord who loves him to give him the grace to walk the same path of humility and honest fidelity to the truth as Mrs.Norma Jean Coons. This is a very serious moment for this priest and for the Church. He needs our prayers. Lent is a time for repentance, healing and reconciliation. Pray for the return of this prodigal son.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Maryknoll, excommunication, womenpriests, Vatican, priesthood, Deacon Keith Fournier

NEWSLETTERS »

Previous Page 1 | 2

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 50 Comments

Mario Sujanto
1 year ago
I still can't understand why there are some that called themselves 'Catholic' have not understand that the Catholic Church is NOT a democracy institution, the Holy Church is a Divine Institution lead by the supreme leader as Christ on Earth. If you don't like what the Church teaches, then get the hell out of the Church, form your own congregration like Luther or Calvin or Swingli or Henry VIII did...... Problem will arise when the people have the arrogance to think that they are more catholic than the Catholic Church, that is more Catholic than the Pope in Rome....
Matthew Hahn
1 year ago
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" -Matthew 7:1-3
John
1 year ago
Sabina,
Can't help but question you and all who say the church needs to update its teachings.... There are a million different churches nowadays that cater to certain beliefs. Religion isn't supposed to be easy, because it is about convictions that can or in the case of the Holy Trinity, not fully make sense. Society has rapidly developed in the last 100 years. In some ways, these transformations have been positive, in others dangerously evil. Keep in mind, what has existed longer than most modern day countries: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. It has weakened at times, but it has never falllen, and it has always risen up again. Contrary to your opinions, the Church is slowly experiencing a Renaissance, the first of many positives coming from Pope John Paul II's legacy. Seminaries are filling up again with men convinced in their faith (trust me, though not in Seminary, I have the honor to know many seminarians in my diocese, and having the ability to be on a first name basis with most of them.
John Knebels
1 year ago
I will continue to pray for the Catholic Church that it accepts the humility that it is wrong and has been wrong for many years in regards to women's ordination. Deep down, people like Keith Fournier realize they are extremely frightened by the mere thought of giving up their monarchical status in our beloved Church. Thank goodness for true people of integrity like Fr. Roy Bourgeois!!!
Mary
2 years ago
Fr Roy has made a very grave decision in conscience, How could he please the LORD if he were to profess something he does not believe and publicly disavow his sincerely held conviction?
vance
2 years ago
Who knows what the outcome will be with aka Fr Roy Bourgeois? We all want to see people have a change of heart and mind when they go down a wrong path in life. Bourgeois is a man on a mission. He believes adamantly in what he is doing. I would like to see him and the many others like him get kicked out of the priesthood.
Alexius Kiob
2 years ago
In today's reading, Jesus said, "..for the Father judges no one; he has entrusted all judgement to the Son.." Jesus confers His authority to Peter, the Vatican, the Pope. All judgments are entrusted to the Pope just as God has entrusted all judgments to Christ.
In this season of Lent, I pray for humility for Fr Roy that he will come to realise that working for the poor, the oppressed and the sick are opportunities given by God to him to glorify the greatness of God.
Alexius Kiob
2 years ago
I am from Sabah (North Borneo) Malaysia. I pray for Father Roy Bourgeois that he may repent and turn back to the Lord. I pray that he will continuously help the poor, the oppressed, the orphans etc and dedicate his life in setting free the weak. And at the same time, I pray that he submits to the Vatican without reservation. There may be pedophile and timorous priests but there is only one authority and the authority is one that was handed over to Peter, the apostle. Shalom!
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
Flo Murphy

We have been appealing to Father with love and prayer. Your right our Lord's will be done.

Father also does go against the Catholic Church and these convictions are contrary to the Magisterium. Lord asked us to obey His commands. The question is Father doing this?

Peace.
vance
2 years ago
Flo, "How many of us have the courage and conviction of Bourgeois" I hope NO BODY. Obviously, you're not a Catholic because there is NO VIRTUE in a person whose sole agenda is to tear down the Catholic Church, its teachings, and its traditions. Since when is there Virtue in doing Evil? I call him an enemy- A Wolf in Sheep's clothing. How about a Charlatan?

Prev12 3 4 5 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment