N.J. Catholic woman, ordained as priest in dissident ceremony, dies at 71

[rug]

Mary Ann Schoettly, a woman who was ordained as a priest in a dissident ceremony and excommunicated in 2009, celebrates the Eucharist for the first time after her ordination in this file photo. Schoettly passed away Tuesday after a quick illness. (Star-Ledger file photo)

Seth Augenstein | The Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014 at 3:20 PM, updated July 23, 2014 at 7:47 PM

FREDON — She was a retired high-school biology teacher who loved gardening. She was also an excommunicated woman who was considered a radical by the Roman Catholic church, and a woman's advocate and “trailblazer” by her supporters and colleagues.

Mary Ann Schoettly, who was ordained as a priest in a dissident ceremony six years ago, died Tuesday, confirmed her co-pastor, Michael Corso, of the Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community in Sparta.

“She was a real activist, a revolutionary,” said Corso this afternoon. “She was a bigger-than-life person.”

"It's quite a loss — it's so sudden," said Suzanne Thiel, of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests organization.

http://www.nj.com/sussexcounty/index.ssf/2014/07/sussex_county_woman_ordained_as_priest_but_excommunicated_dies_of_quick_illness.html

Requiescat in pace.

[shenmue]

1. Rest in peace.

[okasha]

2. May perpetual.light shine upon her.

[hrmjustin]

3. May she rest in peace and rise in glory!