School Censured for Firing Dissident Nun
The American Assn. of University Professors has censured the St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana for firing a teacher who signed a letter supporting the ordination of women as Catholic priests.
The association voted at its annual meeting in Oakland to censure the school for violating the academic freedom of Sister Carmel McEnroy. The dismissal ended McEnroy’s 14-year career at the school.
She was fired after publicly dissenting from church teaching that forbids the ordination of women by signing an open letter to Pope John Paul II.
McEnroy contends that she was acting as a private citizen in signing the letter and says she was denied a fair hearing to try to save her job.
St. Meinrad officials said that by signing the letter she had violated canon law. The Benedictine monks who run St. Meinrad’s said the firing is a church matter, not an academic issue.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
