Excommunicated?

Several sites are reporting that Father Roy Bourgeois has been excommunicated (even his Wikipedia entry has been updated!). At this writing the reports, including Wikipedia, are citing a Nov. 12 press release as evidence.

We wonder why the press release is dated Nov. 12, and doesn’t mention excommunication. I have a call in. More when we hear it.

In the meanwhile, here’s the news story the Register did in this week’s issue about the priest’s dissent on women’s ordination.

And here’s that Maryknoll press release:

“Statement regarding Father Roy Bourgeois

“The Maryknoll Society did receive a confidential communiqué from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and forwarded the contents of that communiqué to Father Bourgeois. The Society continues to respect the confidentiality of the communications between the Congregation
of the Doctrine of the Faith and Father Bourgeois.”

“The Society will abide by the decision of the Congregation. At the same time, we have an obligation to ensure the canonical rights of our members, and we will fulfill that obligation.”

— Tom Hoopes

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis