Women Priests Stand in Solidarity with Prophet of Justice, Fr. Roy Bourgeois
The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests stands in solidarity with Maryknoll Fr. Roy Bourgeois and supports the action of the order's General Council to retain him.
The ARCWP community walk in solidarity with our brother priest Roy Bourgeois whose life's work as a Maryknoll priest has been to challenge the "rulers, principalities and powers," that bring injustice and oppression in our world. Father Roy has consistently and prophetically challenged systems of power, whether they be governments, the military, multi-national global corporations or the church to follow the Gospel teaching of Jesus. As founder of the School of the Americas Watch, Fr. Roy has given voice to our sisters and brothers in Latin America who have suffered because of "guns and greed," as Roy has taught us.
Last week three members of the Maryknoll General Council abstained from voting to dismiss Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a longtime peace activist, from the order which has been his community for 46 years. They are Maryknoll Frs. Paul Masson, the Society's vicar general, Jose Aramburu, an assistant general, and an unnamed priest.
Two council members voted in favor of dismissal: Maryknoll Fr. Edward Dougherty, the superior general of the order, and Maryknoll Fr. Edward McGovern, an assistant general.
Fr. Roy participated in the ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska on Aug. 9, 2008 in Lexington, Kentucky and has continued to speak out publicly in support of women priests.
"In these times of increasing attacks on women's freedom in all facets of society," said Bridget Mary Meehan, bishop of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, "we celebrate Fr. Roy's freedom of conscience and courage to stand with women who are called by God to the priesthood. Our church and world community cry out for the compassion, justice-making and vision of women priests and all women. As living images of Christ, women are given freedom of conscience and must speak for themselves."
The ARCWP community walk in solidarity with our brother priest Roy Bourgeois whose life's work as a Maryknoll priest has been to challenge the "rulers, principalities and powers," that bring injustice and oppression in our world. Father Roy has consistently and prophetically challenged systems of power, whether they be governments, the military, multi-national global corporations or the church to follow the Gospel teaching of Jesus. As founder of the School of the Americas Watch, Fr. Roy has given voice to our sisters and brothers in Latin America who have suffered because of "guns and greed," as Roy has taught us.
We call on the Maryknoll community to support and celebrate Fr. Roy as a prophet.
We demand an immediate end to the unjust and unhealthy atmosphere of fear and intimidation created by the Vatican and carried out through our bishops and heads of religious orders to those who openly express disagreement with Church teaching. As Roy has reminded us, "those who disagree with church teaching should not be excommunicated or lose their pensions."We challenge all religious orders and our brother priests at the Vatican to build up the community as Jesus did: by empowering and liberating.We are living within a movement of grace called forth by Wisdom Sophia, a people-loving Spirit, who has pitched her tent beside us. She embraces and celebrates her prophets. Let us welcome Her Spirit and rejoice for our prophetic brother, Fr. Roy Bourgeois.
From: The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
From: The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Contact: Janice Sevre-Duszynska: rhythmsofthedance@gmail.com; 859-684-4247
Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, sofiaBMM@aol.com; 941-955-2313; 703-505-0004
Roman Catholic Womenpriests
Contact: Rev. Suzanne Thiel
503-784-3330
suzthiel@yahoo.com
For more than 100 years, the Society of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers has been at the forefront of social justices issues throughout the world. We, Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP-USA), are deeply grateful to the many priests and brothers who have dedicated their lives to working to right the wrong of injustice.
It is, therefore, with great sadness, that we decry the fact that Fr. Edward Dougherty, Superior General of the Maryknoll Order and one of his assistants, Fr. Edward McGovern, voted to oust Fr. Roy Bourgeois from the Order for following the dictates of his conscience in speaking up and acting against an injustice, perpetrated by the Vatican, that forbids women to answer God’s call to the ordained priesthood.
We continue to pray and walk in solidarity with Fr. Roy, whose life’s work as a Maryknoll priest for more than forty years has been to challenge power structures that sustain injustice and oppression in the world.
We pray also for his Maryknoll community, that their minds and hearts may be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, who empowers and liberates humanity.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA, Inc. (RCWP-USA) is a prophetic organization within an international progressive movement in the Roman Catholic Church. Its mission is primarily to prepare, ordain in apostolic succession, and support women who are called by the Holy Spirit and their communities to a renewed priestly ministry rooted in justice and faithfulness to the Gospel. Visit www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org.
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