Stop the Excommunication of Women's Advocate Rev. Roy Bourgeois
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Maryknoll Catholic Mission Movement Officials
Rev. Roy Bourgeois has been an advocate for women’s involvement in the priesthood for quite some time. Now, the Catholic church is threatening him with excommunication for his advocacy.
Bourgeois, a seasoned human rights activist, became an ordained priest in the 70's with the order of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. The same organization that fostered his advocacy is threatening to excommunicate him on the grounds that he is "reject[ing] the Magisterium of the Church on the matter of priestly ordination."
Bourgeois has commented that he believes "that God calls both men and women to the priesthood." After being asked to retract his statement Bourgeois emphasized that he could not as he would see that as lying and "betraying [his] conscience."
Don't let Maryknoll exommunicate Rev. Roy Bourgeois. Tell church officials to respect women's equality.
Rev. Roy Bourgeois is not ""reject[ing] the Magisterium of the Church on the matter of priestly ordination." He is embracing the idea that God calls all sexes into priesthood, and not just men.
Bourgeois has done amazing things in fighting for human rights. His support of women in the priesthood is not an act of defiance against God, but an attempt to be progressive and adapt religion to modern society. In this way he is actually help the Church and its cause by fighting to remove exclusionary laws and opening it to a wider range of people who can reach a larger audience in spreading religious messages.
Do not punish Rev. Roy Bourgeois for his activism and forward thinking. Instead, reverse his excommunication and grow with him in bringing the Church into the modern era.
