Women's Ordination and the Case of Roy Bourgeois

Canon Law Made Easy ^ | June 13, 2013 | Cathy Caridi, J.C.L.

[Weiss White]

Q: I’m trying to figure out what is really going on in the case of Fr. Bourgeois, who was kicked out of the Maryknolls last year. The stories I read suggested that he was excommunicated and is no longer a priest, right? If that’s true, then why is he now saying publicly that he’s going to appeal to Pope Francis to reinstate him as a Maryknoll priest again? Can the new Pope even do that? —Ryan

[JCBreckenridge]

Simple answer. No.

[ThomasMore]

I agree with the canonical decree of Excommunication. But then, I must insist that the excommunication of persistent sinners... supporters and purveyors of abortion...and pedophile priests and their covers(bishops) also be excommunicated...for those are far graver sins.

[nickcarraway]

The answer here is kind of misleading. Of course, he can’t be reinstated if he continues his current beliefs and actions. But, the hope is, he would change those, and repents his actions. As they state in the response, excommunication is for a person’s own benefit. We can all hope Mr. Bourgeois changes. For now, he is strident in his resistance, but that doesn’t mean he can’t repent. Bourgeois apparently knew very well he was excommunicating himself by participating in that ceremony, even before he was formally excommunicated.

[nickcarraway]

They are excommunicated latae sententiae.

[A.A. Cunningham]

What Bourgeois seeks, therefore, is impossible. Excommunicated for publicly supporting a position that directly conflicts with Catholic doctrine, and then expelled from his institute and laicized(sic) for persisting in that position, Bourgeois has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to change his views. Rather, he apparently expects the teachings of the Catholic Church to change, to accord with his own! It’s a fairly safe bet that this isn’t going to happen, no matter who is sitting on the Chair of Peter. As Catholics, we believe that the Pope is Christ’s Vicar on earth, explaining Catholic teachings and acting on Christ’s behalf. The Church’s positions on doctrinal issues can’t completely flip-flop, since those positions are dictated by Jesus Christ, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). The outcome of any appeal in the Bourgeois case, therefore, is already pretty clear.

[ThomasMore]

If this ex-priest was excommunicated ferendae sententiae by the CDF, I see it that many PUBLIC figures persistently committing and not publicly recanting their grave sins of abortion and pederasty, to be publicly excommunicated. That would send a clear message to the sinner...and also to the confused or mislead masses.

[JCBreckenridge]

Is the right way to go about that appealing to Francis to overrule Benedict?

[brooklyn dave]

Roy Bourgeois was one of those 70s style lib theo priests who has probably spent more time in jail than spent time dispensing the sacraments...which is the main reason for being a priest. If Dan Berrigan was 30 years younger-he’d definitely be ex-communicated as well.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I also believe that a manifest (public, open) dissent from Catholic teachings and morals, requires not only public (not latae sentenciae) excommunication, but the offender's public recantation and contrition, if he is to be re-admitted to the Church as a penitent.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Maybe not Dan, but Phil -— who died 10 years ago, and had long left the priesthood and married ex-nun Elizabeth McAllister. Dan, at 92, is still a priest and a Jesuit in good standing. He broke U.S. laws but, to my knowledge, he did not break his vows nor commit overt sacrilege.

[A.A. Cunningham]

and a Jesuit in good standing.

According to who, the Society of Jesus? In this day and age that doesn't carry much weight.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh, I know. I realized that little irony as I typed it.