No fear: Activist Priest unbowed by excommunication threat

[BridgeTheGap]

For years, the Rev. Roy Bourgeois has spoken out frequently -- even on Vatican Radio -- against a policy that his Roman Catholic Church superiors say is unchangeable.

He has said the male-only priesthood amounts to "sexism" which, "like racism, is sinful."

Now Bourgeois is on the brink of excommunication after he was moved beyond words into action when he was invited to Kentucky for an ordination liturgy for a Lexington woman.

Bourgeois didn't just attend the event in August: He preached the sermon, helped celebrate Mass with the woman, Janice Sevre-Duszynska, and placed his hands on her head in a blessing.

Bourgeois received an Oct. 21 letter from the Vatican indicating that unless he recanted -- which he said he has no intention of doing -- he would face excommunication in 30 days. Excommunication is a rare and severe penalty that would cut him off from the sacraments, rights and privileges of a priest and as a member of the church.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081119/NEWS01/811190663

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Bourgeois realizes something

that the Vatican has forgotten--that true religion is found within one's own heart and being, and that the dogma and hierarchy of a church is the creation of man.

[patrice]

2. I doubt that God cares whether Bourgeois is a Catholic or not. nt

[moggie]

3. Bourgeois is better known for protesting against Fort Benning

Or, to be precise, WHINSEC, formerly known as the School of the Americas, the American school for dictators and death squads. No doubt the school contains Catholics in good standing, while this brave man faces excommunication. It's a fucked-up set of priorities.

[JerseygirlCT]

4. C'mon over, Rev. Plenty of room for good priests in TEC.

And he sounds like a very good one, indeed.