PITTSBURGH, Jan. 26, 01 (CWNews.com) - A former Catholic
nun who was ordained as an Episcopal priest has been
suspended from her teaching duties in a Catholic
university's theology department.
Dr. Moni McIntyre, who was given tenure by Duquesne
University several years ago, returned from the Christmas
break to find her classes reassigned to other teachers. A
spokesman for the university said the move was taken after
they discovered that McIntyre was ordained in the Episcopal
Church last month. She continues to receive a salary but
could be dismissed from the faculty eventually, he said.
"She is now a publicly proclaimed, official teacher of
Anglican doctrine, which differs from Roman Catholic
doctrine in very important areas," said Duquesne President
John E. Murray Jr. "To present her as a teacher of Roman
Catholic theology under these circumstances is a
contradiction which is not in keeping with the mission of
the department of theology, the university, or the Roman
Catholic Church."
Murray said he made the move after consulting with Bishop
Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh. "His advice was that our view
was the correct view from the Church's position. Without
qualification," Murray said.
On January 9, McIntyre was informed in a letter from Murray
that her decision to become an Episcopal priest
"necessarily repudiates certain teachings of the Roman
Catholic Church" and that she would no longer be allowed to
teach theology."
Murray said Duquesne officials were informed of McIntyre's
ordination by an official of the Catholic Diocese of
Pittsburgh who was examining the local Episcopal Diocese
web site and noticed an ordination scheduled for December 1
at the Church of the Holy Cross and saw McIntyre's name. A
theology department member asked McIntyre about the report
on December 20 about the report and she confirmed the
action.