Pressure causes Madonna University center to cancel talk by theologian M. Shawn Copeland

A prominent theologian's lecture at a Catholic university has been canceled over the issue of LGBT Catholics. 

M. Shawn Copeland, theology professor at Boston College, was scheduled to speak at Madonna University's Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue on Sept. 20. Madonna University, in Livonia, Michigan, just west of Detroit, is sponsored by the Felician Sisters of North America.

But on the night of Sept. 18, the center posted on its Facebook page that the lecture had been canceled, "due to some messages in the media that misconstrued the content of Dr. Copeland's lecture."

Copeland had been set to give a talk titled "New Vision for the Church: Pope Francis' Agenda for Social Justice." Copeland is a former convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium and a former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America. She is scheduled to lecture and receive the prestigious Marianist Award at the University of Dayton on Nov. 1.

According to in the Facebook statement, Felician Sr. Nancy Marie Jamroz, director of the center, said that the faculty and staff at the university "remain unwavering in their commitment to living out the University's Franciscan Values," which include respect for the dignity of all people and education for truth and service.