Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk has banned Sister of Charity Louise Akers from teaching at archdiocesan parishes and institutionsbecause she has refused to renounce support for the ordination of women priests. "The principle here is that someone who is teaching in the name of the church should be in accord with the teachings of the church," said archdiocese spokesman Dan Andriacco, Cincinnati.com reports.
Akers' supporters say she has served the church well for decades and her views on the ordination of women should not overshadow her other work.
"This is just bullying," said Erin Saiz Hanna, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference.
Pilarczyk told Akers his decision was unrelated to the Vatican "apostolic visitation" of women's congregations.
Akers, 66, said she asked for a meeting with Pilarczyk last month after she learned he was concerned about comments she made about the ordination of women. She was teaching a class for religious educators at the time and said she wanted to clarify "what was expected of me."
She said Pilarczyk gave her an ultimatum: Remove her name from the web site of the Women's Ordination Conference, which supports the ordination of women, and publicly renounce her support of women priests.
She told him she was willing to take her name off the web site, but she could not reject her strong belief in the ordination of women and embrace the church's male-only doctrine.
"For me, it's an issue of justice within the church," Akers said Wednesday. "To make a public statement in support of the doctrine would be to go against my conscience, and I can't do that."
"The primary motive for taking the stand I've taken is the value, dignity and equality of women in the church," Akers said.
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