Liberal Catholics To Honor Activist Priest Bourgeois by Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/RCWP Bishop Joan Houk Presides at Liturgy

Left to right:
Bridget Mary Meehan, Roy Bourgeois, Bishop Dana Reynolds,
Janice Sevre-Duszynska, far right, Ree Hudson

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11199/1161221-454.stm

Monday, July 18, 2011 "There were no repercussions from the Vatican the many times that the Rev. Roy Bourgeois was arrested for trespassing at a U.S. Army facility where he protests human rights violations. But when he preached at an ordination Mass for a woman who claimed to become a Catholic priest, he was excommunicated...."To be very honest, I feel that, while I'm not in good standing with the Vatican, the Vatican is not God. I've never felt closer to God," he said.
On Sunday he will be in Pittsburgh to receive the 21st Century Prophet Award from Call to Action-Pennsylvania, an organization of liberal Catholics that urges women's ordination and other changes in the church.
While Father Bourgeois will not say Mass, Eucharist will be celebrated by Joan Houk of McCandless, a bishop in Roman Catholic Womenpriests, which sponsored the service that Father Bourgeois was excommunicated for participating ..."


Bridget Mary's Reflection:

Way to go, CTA. Mayknoll priest. Roy Bourgeois is a prophet leading the way to justice in the church. He is unafraid as he often says to disturb the hornet's nest!! That he did when he preached at Janice Sevre-Duszynska's ordination in Lexington, Kentucky in August 2008. It was an awesome moment to stand around that altar with him and know that history was once against being made.I knew that he had crossed the line in the church and expected some sort of punishment, but excommunication and being pushed out of his order! Whoa! None of the pedophiles who raped and sodomized innocent children suffered such a fate!


Like the prophets of old, he has been rejected by the religious leaders.

At the end of the day, we must walk in our truth. Thank you, Fr. Roy, for reminding us of our prophetic call to do justice and live justice in our church and world. This is a cause worth living and dying for!


How appropriate that Bishop Joan Houk presided at the liturgy. On July 31, 2006, 12 women were ordained on the Majestic boat on the three rivers in Pittsburgh. Joan helped to organize these historic ordinations and it is a joy to see her celebrating this milestone in our history.

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

http://www.associationoformancatholicwomenpriests.org/

sofiabmm@aol.com