Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest known for his opposition to the School of the Americas (he founded School of the Americas Watch in 1990 School of the Americas Watch ) took part in a Women's Ordination ceremony a few months ago. He was asked by the Vatican to disavow what he had done, and when he didn't he was given an additional 30 days to recant his position. Evidently he was excommunicated after the thirty days elapsed.National Catholic Register and here Catholic Culture : News Briefs : American Maryknoll priest excommunicated for involvement in women's 'ordination' .
I met Fr. Bourgeois at a small gathering about a dozen years ago and thanked him for his work. So his actions are quite unfortunate. Some people, when they take a "radical' stance, it becomes all about them. And this might be the case with Fr. Bourgeois. Perhaps he's bigger than the Church (in his own mind).
The other excommunications involve two priests in the Diocese of Phoenix, who started their own "Praise and Worship Center". At least one of them was on leave from the Diocese because of 10 indictments on sexual misdemeanor charges over the last decade, while he led the Life Teen program. Another priestly betrayal.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
December 15, 2008-The Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, has issued a Decree of Excommunication to Reverend Monsignor Dale Fushek and Reverend Mark Dippre.
Fushek and Dippre have incurred the censure of excommunication because they have chosen to be in schism with the Catholic Church by establishing and leading an opposing ecclesial community known to the public as the Praise and Worship Center. Both priests have consistently refused to comply with explicit directions by Bishop Olmsted to discontinue engaging in public ministry. The excommunications were incurred after repeated offers of reconciliation were ignored. The decree of excommunication by Bishop Olmsted declares the censure that Fushek and Dippre, as ordained priests, have brought upon themselves. The purpose of these sanctions is to reconcile both men with the Catholic Church and to preserve the integrity and unity of the Diocese.
As excommunicated priests, Fushek and Dippre cannot participate in the celebration of the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist or in any other ceremonies of worship. They are also prohibited from celebrating or receiving any of the sacraments. In addition, they forfeit the benefits of dignity, office, or any function that they had previously acquired in the Catholic Church.
Two priests excommunicated for involvement in Praise and Worship Center
For one to be excommunicated, a baptized Catholic must knowingly place oneself outside of full communion with the Church, according to canon law. In the cases of Fushek and Dippre, diocesan officials claim that their excommunication was incurred as a result of their involvement in the Praise and Worship Center, in direct defiance of Bishop Olmsted’s requests to discontinue engaging in public ministry. The priests’ ongoing leadership roles within the Mesa-based organization constitutes the support of an opposing worship venue, putting them at odds with the bishop and the pope — also known as schism.
In effect, the excommunication became “automatic” once the two priests engaged in actions against the Church. The bishop’s notice to them, the “Decree of Excommunication,” was the formal declaration of what had already happened by virtue of their schism.
While this particular type of excommunication is in fact a sanction, it is one that is “medicinal” in its purpose. The intention is to make the offenders aware of the danger that their behavior and their actions pose to themselves and the Catholic faithful who may be confused and scandalized by such activity, according to Fr. Chris Fraser, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Phoenix.
“There is special concern when a cleric separates himself from the communion of the Church, either by his teaching or actions,” said Fr. Fraser.
By declaring the excommunication, the bishop hopes to motivate these two priests to come back to the Church and seek reconciliation with the Catholic faithful, according to Fr. Fraser, an expert in Church law. The primary purpose of excommunication is to repair the scandal caused by the teachings and actions of the cleric, to restore justice in the Church and to reform the offender.
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