Roman Catholic Womenpriests' Statement of Support for Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Letters of Support from People of God

(Fr. Roy laying hands on at ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska)
To express your support for Fr. Roy who is being called to address his prophetic witness on Monday, Aug. 17,2008, by emailing Maryknoll Superiors at:
mkl@maryknoll.org


View Fr. Roy's Homily on google
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8981028910855872604

Priest to meet Maryknoll leaders over role in Womenpriests’ ceremony
By Dennis Sadowski
Catholic News Service
August 14, 2008
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804167.htm

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5589903504827146713
"We are marching, singing, dancing in the light of God" as we issue a new day of justice and equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church.
Join us in the dance of transformation to return our church to Jesus in the Gospels who called women and men to be disciples and equals!

Roman Catholic Womenpriests' Statement of Support for Fr. Roy Bourgeois

Contacts: Bridget Mary Meehan703-283-2929
Janice Sevre-Duszynska 859-684-4247

Founder of the School of the Americas Watch, Maryknoll priest Roy Bourgeois, co-celebrated with Roman Catholic Womenpriests at an ordination of a womanpriest, on Aug. 9, 2008 in Lexington, Kentucky. He has been summoned to meet with his superior and General Council in Maryknoll, New York on Monday, Aug.18, 2008. Cardinal Egan was involved in this summons.

In his prophetic homily, he stated: "Conscience is what compels Janice Sevre-Duszynskaand the other women to say, ‘No, we cannot deny our call from God to the priesthood.’ And it is our conscience that compels us to be here today. How can we speak out against the injustice of our country’s foreign policy in Latin America and Iraq if we are silent about the injustice of our church here at home? " Roman Catholic Womenpriests stand in solidarity with Fr.Roy Bourgeois, who has served God's people as a priest for 36 years as he meets with his superior and General Council in Maryknoll , New York on Monday, Aug.18, 2008. We affirm his courageous witness in support of women called to priesthood and his work for justice and peace in the world.

To show your support for Fr. Roy Bourgeois and womenpriests,
send emails to his Superior General, John Sivalon at
jsivalon@maryknoll.org
and to the three-member Maryknoll Council at
mklcouncil@maryknoll.org
and/or fax to 914-944-3600
Write to: Maryknoll Council P.O. Box 303 Maryknoll, NY 10545

Visit Roman Catholic Womenpriests:
http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/


Letters of Support for Fr. Roy
To Maryknoll Superior General:
Letter 1
Reverend John C. Sivalon, M.M.
Superior General,
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
P.O. Box 304
Maryknoll, N.Y. 10545-0304

Dear Father Sivalon:

The word on the street is that there is to be some sort of inquiry or trial of Fr. Roy Bourgeois next week. No sense in 'trying to find out' what he did. The whole world knows, and most of have seen the video of his homily and his participation in the blessed, inspiring, valid ordination of another of the Roman Catholic Womanpriests in Lexington this past weekend. He would therefore be guilty of following the example and direction of Jesus and being guided by the Holy Spirit….and indeed, in violation of discriminatory, unjust, man-made laws based on unexamined dogma.

As long time followers and supporters of Maryknoll---men and women---and fans and supporters of Fr. Roy, ever since reading his exemplary history in MARYKNOLL MAGAZINE some years ago, my wife Helen and I have to believe that there is no way that the leaders and community of Maryknoll would ever subject their guy to a 'kangaroo court,' nor let him be 'hanged' or 'burned-at-the-stake,' …..nor 'fired.' I can't conceive of Maryknoll, with its life-long history of interfering with injustice, of being complicit in punishing one of its own for listening to and following his conscience…and Jesus. Maryknoll now has the opportunity lead the Church out of the 'Dark Ages' into the Light of the Holy Spirit in the 21st Century. We pray Maryknoll follows the Spirit's lead.

If these "punishments" do become inevitable in spite of the protests and prayers of many of us, then my wife and I demand that, as staunch supporters of Fr. Roy and what he stands for, be accorded the same "honor," the same 'hanging,' 'burning,' or' firing' that is given to Roy. I am sure many others out there will publicly seek the same honor/punishment, if that is what it takes to follow Jesus and not the laws of men. Therefore, we stand with Fr. Roy and Jesus.

Very sincerely yours, in Jesus,
John H. Duffy

Letter 2
August 13, 2008
Reverend John C. Sivalon, M.M.Superior General,Maryknoll Fathers and BrothersP.O. Box 304Maryknoll, N.Y. 10545-0304
Dear Father Sivalon:
The word on the street is that there is to be some sort of inquiry or trial of Fr. Roy Bourgeois next week. No sense in 'trying to find out' what he did. The whole world knows, and most of have seen the video of his homily and his participation in the blessed, inspiring, valid ordination of another of the Roman Catholic Womanpriests in Lexington this past weekend. He would therefore be guilty of following the example and direction of Jesus and being guided by the Holy Spirit….and indeed, in violation of discriminatory, unjust, man-made laws based on unexamined dogma.
As long time followers and supporters of Maryknoll---men and women---and fans and supporters of Fr. Roy, ever since reading his exemplary history in MARYKNOLL MAGAZINE some years ago, my wife Helen and I have to believe that there is no way that the leaders and community of Maryknoll would ever subject their guy to a 'kangaroo court,' nor let him be 'hanged' or 'burned-at-the-stake,' …..nor 'fired.' I can't conceive of Maryknoll, with its life-long history of interfering with injustice, of being complicit in punishing one of its own for listening to and following his conscience…and Jesus. Maryknoll now has the opportunity lead the Church out of the 'Dark Ages' into the Light of the Holy Spirit in the 21st Century. We pray Maryknoll follows the Spirit's lead.
If these "punishments" do become inevitable in spite of the protests and prayers of many of us, then my wife and I demand that, as staunch supporters of Fr. Roy and what he stands for, be accorded the same "honor," the same 'hanging,' 'burning,' or' firing' that is given to Roy. I am sure many others out there will publicly seek the same honor/punishment, if that is what it takes to follow Jesus and not the laws of men. Therefore, we stand with Fr. Roy and Jesus.
Very sincerely yours, in Jesus,
John H. Duffy
P.S. A short time after writing the above I was led to the memories of the times I stood at the graves of your gals in Chaletenango, and then of Jean Donovan in Sarasota, and then of Oscar Romero's blood-stained alb hanging in his humble apartment in San Salvador, and then at the site where the bodies of the 6 Jebbies, and two women lay on the grounds of UCA, in 1989.....and then I recalled Roy's anointed homily last Sunday in Lexington, as he, like those before him, chose to follow the way of Jesus and stand firm against injustice, no matter the cost. Maryknoll must now, at this pivotal time in history, ask itself the question, as did Roy, Oscar Romero, and the other like-Spirited ones:
Do we seek the approval of the hierarchy of the Church…or…do we seek the approval of Jesus?--
Jack & Helen Duffy103 S. Bowman Rd. # 505Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 ( May-Oct)(608) 253-2848282 Bainbridge DrNokomis, FL 34275 (Nov-Apr)(941) 483-3262mailto:483-3262jhduffy13@gmail.com

Letter 3:
Dear Father Sivalon:
The Maryknollers have always been ahead of the other religious orders in working for peace and justice in the world. When the rest of us were working comfortably in our US parishes and schools, you were out working with the underprivileged in poor countries. Now I hope and pray that you will again be at the forefront of religious orders in defending therights of women in our church. I applaud Fr. Roy Bourgeois for the courage and love demonstrated in supporting womenpriests. His conscienceled him to do what no other priest has done openly but thousands of laypeople, who have no reason to fear as you do, have done. 70% of Catholicssupport women priests and yet our church won't listen to the Sensus Fidelium.Joan Chittister's Benedictine order supported her when the Vatican ordered her to not speak at the Women's Ordination Conference in 2001. Consequently Joan spoke and continues to write and speak and hercommunity continues to do good works. I pray that your order will support Fr. Roy so that you and he can continue to be a strong voice inour church. May your conscience be as strong as Fr. Roy's and lead youto act justly.God bless you at this difficult time.
Dedicated and loving Catholics,
John and Ellen McNally
Estero, Florida