Evening star., 1949-10-29
Father Feeney Reveals
Dismissal as Jesuit
For 'Disobedience'
BY the Associated Press


noted Roman Catholic author,
lecturer and poet, was dismissed
last night from the Jesuit Order
in the latest move against him in
a six-month-old dispute.
Father Feeney announced the
dismissal himself. He said it was
for alleged "disobedience."
He was deprived of his priestly
functions on January l by Arch
bishop Richard j. Cushing, head
of the Boston archdiocese, for
approval of teachings Of three
Boston College lay professors that
there is no salvation outside of the
Catholic church.
The alleged "disobedience' in
volved Father Feeney's refusal in
September. 1948, to accept trans
fer to Holy Cross College in
Worcester, jesuit institution.
Will Continue as Priest.
Father Feeney said he would
continue "as a Catholic priest,
loyal and devoted to the church
and to the Pope ="
He summoned reporters to st.
Benedict's Center to tell the latest
developments in his argument with
the hierarchy. st. Benedict's was
established several years ago for
the teaching of Catholic doctrine
He told newsmen that he had
received a registered letter from
the Rev. John j. McElcney. S. j.,
New England provincial Of the
Society of Jesus. inclosing a de-
cree from the Rev. Jean Baptiste
Janssens, general Of the order at
Rome.
The latter. In Latin, he said,
concluded with this sentence:
"By reasons of a letter received
October 81, 1919, written by the
Very Rev. Jean Baptiste Janssens
general of the Society of Jesus,
your dismissal from the Society
of Jesus has been approved"
Chancery Is Silent.
Father Feeney said:
Father McEleney, thank God,
cannot take away my priesthood,
not can any of my priestly facul-
ties be removed by the fraudulent
means which I know both he and
the Boston chancery have taken
in their effort to keep me from
annoying them in their interfaith
alliances in the City of Boston
The Catholic chancery had nc
comment on the announcement in
line with its rule Of silence
throughout the controversy.
The dispute arose over the con-
tention of Father Feeney's group
that there is no salvation outside
of the Catholic church.
The supreme sacred congrega-
ton of the holy Office in Rome
declared late in July that this
view was "far from being genuine
Catholic teaching"
Three Professors Dismissed.
The matter became public
knowledge in April when Boston
College, a Jesuit institution, dis
missed the three Boston College
lay professors-members Of Father
Feeney's classes at st. Benedict's
for spreading erroneous" doc
trine.
When Father Feeney indorsed
the professors stand. Archbishop
Gushing disclosed that Father
Feeney had been deprived Of his
priestly faculties.
Archbishop Gushing issued .
decree "silencing" the priest-de-
priving him Of the right to say
mass, administer sacraments or
preach sermons. Only full sub
mission to his superiors can lift
the penalty, church authorities
said.
Father Feeney, So. entered the
Jesuit Order after taking a mas
ter of arts degree at Weston Col
lege in Massachusetts, and study
ing at Sorbonne in Paris and at
oxford. He was ordained in 1928.
Won't Give Up Center.
Flanked by 55 students at the
center, Father Feeney said last
night that he did not intend to
give up his work at st. Benedict's.
He said that he could not leave
st. Benedict's to 60 to Holy Cross
because of "a conscience diff
Guilty."
"I would not leave St. Bene-
diets Center he said, until !
could get a conscience hearing on
the doctrine that there is no SAL
vation outside the church"
He has refused to accept the
ruling of the Supreme Sacred
Congregation on that issue. He
said that the ruling. which de-
clared in substance that there is
salvation outside the Catholic
church was mo answer"
Father Feeney said that he still
awaited IAN eX-cathedra pro-
nouncement from the Holy
Father"
,C