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PDF version100th anniversary of Maryknoll sees protest for Bourgeois
by Joshua J. McElwee on Jun. 30, 2011
Calling attention to the pending removal of Fr. Roy Bourgeois from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, seven activists stood outside a Mass celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the order at its headquarters in New York Wednesday.
The protest came 100 years to the day of the official creation of the order by Pope Pius X.
Bourgeois, who is known for his work as the founder of SOA Watch, received a first warning from Maryknoll superior general Fr. Edward Dougherty in March threatening him with dismissal from the order and laicization by the Vatican if he would not recant his support of women's ordination.
The activist told NCR last week that while he had not yet received the second warning from Dougherty, he was anticipating its arrival "any day." He also said he had been in contact with a canon lawyer and is considering planning a visit to Rome to plead his case.
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers communications manager Mike Virgintino told NCR Friday that because of Bourgeois' retaining of a lawyer, the order has delayed providing a second letter to the priest in order to allow a chance for more dialog.
"We have delayed providing a second letter to Roy in consideration that he has retained an attorney," said Virgintino. “We thought it was best to talk again with Roy and the attorney before issuing a second letter."
A letter written by one of the activists at yesterday's protest says the seven were allowed to stand near an employee parking lot away from the building where the Mass was being celebrated, but were not allowed inside during the Mass.
As people passed by, headed towards the Mass, many stopped to talk to the activists to express an "outpouring of love and admiration for Father Roy," writes Anne Dowling, one of the activists and a member of School of Americas Watch New York City.
Virgintino said the Maryknoll leadership made the decision to not allow the protestors into the Mass because of space constraints and to keep the focus of the celebration on the work of the order.
"The Mass was to celebrate the official founding day of Maryknoll," said Virgintino. "And the society wanted the Mass to focus solely on the celebration of the society's first 100 years and all the work that the society and the society's members, including Roy, have done around the world. That was the focus of this celebration."
The chapel used for the Mass could only seat about 350 people, Virgintino added, and was full with Maryknoll members, lay associates, employees, and "special invited guests."
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Virgintino also said they provided refreshments to the seven protestors, and had allowed them onto the property to ensure that they would not protest on the public roads leading up to grounds of the order, which are "heavily traveled."
Norma Harrington, Jean Marchant, Sue Malone, Mara Bard, Jim Griffin, and Anne Dowling stand on the grounds of the Maryknoll headquarters in New York yesterday (Photos courtesy Anne Dowling)
When the activists were not allowed to attend the Mass, Dowling writes that the seven held a small prayer circle.
Despite the size of the group in support of Bourgeois, Dowling expresses hope:
"Our vigil, though small, gives us hope for the future of the Church."
The full text of Dowling's letter follows.
----------------------------------
The Two Sides of Maryknoll
By Anne Dowling
On June 29, 2011, seven peace activists set up camp on the grounds of Maryknoll to hold vigil to protest Maryknoll’s dismissal of Father Roy Bourgeois for his public support of women’s ordination.
The group included three members of the School of the Americas Watch New York City and Long Island: Anne Dowling, Joe Dowling, Mara Bard. It also included Jim Griffin from NYC Voices of the Faithful; Rev. Jean Marchant, a Roman Catholic Woman priest from the Boston area and two of her associates: Norma Harrington and Sue Malone.
At least two other activists had arrived earlier but were turned away at the gates by Maryknoll security.
Our first interaction with gate security was the moment we began to realize that, although we were small in numbers, our statement carried much weight. Security obviously knew we were coming and had been instructed to turn us away. We were told the 100 year celebratory Mass was by invitation only. I had inquired by phone weeks earlier and was assured the event was opened to the public.
After a respectful interchange which included us sharing the attached flier explaining our purpose, they invited us to a specific area near the employee parking lot, away from the chapel entrance. The security guard, assigned to monitor us promoted the designated spot as having shade and benches -- we accepted.
As people passed on their way to the Mass we received an overwhelmingly positive response. Nuns, priest and members of the Maryknoll community went out of their way to interact with us -- many smiles, thumbs up and in a few cases, members stopping to dialog with us and thank us for our presence.
Nuns told us that our information was posted on their bulletin board, three priests engaged us in conversations expressing the support of the Maryknoll community for women’s ordination, and there was an outpouring of love and admiration for Father Roy.
When it came time for the Mass the security guard asked what our plans were. Four of us stated our intention to attend the Mass. The security guard told us we would not be allowed in without an invitation.
We asked him to check with his superiors; it went all the way to the top and the answer was,”No.” We were excluded from attending Mass, so we concluded our vigil with our own circle of prayer.
The two sides of Maryknoll could not have been more obvious -- we felt a strong sense of solidarity with the Maryknoll community, yet the Maryknoll leadership was threatened by our mere presence.
Our vigil, though small, gives us hope for the future of the Church.
Editor's Note: This blog was updated Friday with more information about the protest.
ok, so, please, just saying,
ok, so, please, just saying, but as one who "writes with light" even in the harsh noonday sun of this borderland, may I please simply share with Ms. Dowling, please, I know this gets tough with backgrounds, consider the direction of the light, and let the light write. Backlighting is very tough in the bright sun, and you did a marvelous effort here, but just saying. Cross lighting might have been too harsh, as some here, but here you have a mix of some in shadow and some in light, the tall gentleman to the back. Perhaps gather them all in a shady open spot, as they seem willing subjects, and ask one of those passers-by to hit the button on the point-and-shoot, so you also may get in the photo, and those signs will not be bled out by the strong sun passing through.
good job and good work and good witness, courageous. By the way, Maryknoll tossed me, or its Director of Vocations did, without community consensus, after years of attending their vocation retreats, and visiting members overseas, on Saint Patrick's Day 1986, and I have never recovered. I got no first or second warning.
This is criminal and unChristian and uncharitable treatment of Father Roy, whom I first met in Nicaragua in 1984 while I was staying with a Maryknoller in Terrabonna, Nicaragua, and last saw a few years back here in New Mexico, now in his advancing years and abandoned by his own society. Will he never make it into Saint Theresa's Residence, with my uncle there?
to "ok,so please, just
to "ok,so please, just saying": Thanks for the photo critique but I can't take credit. The photo Joshua chose was the one photo taken by the security guard assigned to keep an eye on us. Sorry to hear of your painful parting with Maryknoll. Perhaps Roy's situation will have some positive outcomes to give you closure. Anne Dowling
Nobody's threatened by the
Nobody's threatened by the presence of seven old people carrying signs. Just another publicity stunt by people whom time has passed by.
I often wonder whether I read
I often wonder whether I read the same article as others. Repeatedly in this article we find the heads of Maryknoll VERY HIGHLY threatened by this innocuous grouping (eight counting the photographer, if you had read the article, my dear Clarissa), and in fact so threatened that he had SECURITY GUARDS blocking the gates, turning some away, and letting these eight through only to a grassy knoll far removed, and taking the extraordinary and canonically illegal act of FORBIDDING CATHOLICS TO ATTEND MASS! This is not done, properly, nor justly, nor compassionately, in our Church, to forbid people to come to Mass, to hold a private Mass.
But the public believes Maryknoll is all about helping the poor and Orbis Books, and the Reverend Father Roy Bourgeois, and the like. No. Most of the priests who hang around up at the big house are to the right of Ronald Reagan and the Bush boys, actual EWTN watchers (OMG!).
To "Nobody's threatened
To "Nobody's threatened by..." Okay so it's not the most flattering photo but, hey, could you take another look with your glasses on? Seems to me we are a diverse group of relatively young and young at heart committed to bringing attention to a major issue in the church. Thanks for calling it a publicity stunt-- the nuns, priests and people all over the world who support Father Roy and women's ordination appreciate the attention.
Clarissa...I am always amused
Clarissa...I am always amused at the remarks of the "Young" or "dark heads"
at their "brvado" of proclaiming their non threating stand against
the "old gray heads". With age comes Wisdom! It happens to the best of us...
Ask Bene XVII....
It is my hope that when you
It is my hope that when you get "old" you will grow a heart and soul to be interested in life. So sad, your attitude. No o es time is past, only the nasty and self center who think they will always be young.
"Four of us stated our
"Four of us stated our intention to attend the Mass. The security guard told us we would not be allowed in without an invitation."
Is this canonical? Since when is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a PRIVATE AFFAIR? I had often heard a Mass is open to all.
How does this square with Canon Law? Our Sacramental Theology? No one can be barred from attending a Mass, by my understanding.
7 protesters? No wonder
7 protesters?
No wonder hierarchs think they can do whatever they want.
The people just don't care anymore.
As long as there is someone to baptize, marry and bury them, all is well.
How very sad.
I will gladly go and join the
I will gladly go and join the group if there is another opportunity (I realize that the Maryknoll 100th anniversary Mass was the main impetus for the timing of this protest). I'm sure I'm not the only one who would join in, now that the news of this protest has gotten out. If anyone is organizing another protest, here is my contact e-mail: marymorgan721@hotmail.com. I would be honored to join you in support of Fr. Roy. I heard Fr. Roy and Rev. Jean Marchant speak at a showing of "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican" in the Boston area a few months ago. It was, quite simply, a life-changing experience.
I count six.
I count six.
Hey, 7 protestors, that's 7
Hey, 7 protestors, that's 7 more than are protesting our new predator drone Humanitarian war in Somalia.
I'm usre that all the NCR's Pax Christi liberals havent died off yet. I figure wars stared by pro-abortion Preidents are part of the seamless garment.
Thank You for this update on
Thank You for this update on Fr. Roy's Case. My prayers continued for him and the whole Maryknoll order. God Bless those who were able to speak up for him. It is shameful that they were not allowed into Mass
What better time than a 100th
What better time than a 100th anniversary to question the mission of an organization. Perhaps Maryknoll has outlived its purpose. The individuals who were present at this event may seem small in number - but they represent a huge group of individuals who support the rights of women to be priests in the RC faith.
What is important is not the clarity of the photo or the age of the individuals at the gathering, but the issue itself. Why are people scared of the idea of women priests? Power? Tradition?
Roy Bourgeois has willingly taken on this issue knowing full well the consequences of his actions. It is incredibly sad that the Maryknoll society has not stood with him - even though I know of many individual Maryknollers who fully support Roy's actions.
100 years old? An accomplishment to be celebrated not for remaining standing but for adapting, changing with the times and tackling tough issues. Maryknoll - look in the mirror and check yourself out!
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