The Archbishop of Detroit has fired theologians Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria from Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Martin and Echeverria had previously criticized perceived doctrinal ambiguity. No reason was given for Echeverria's termination.
5 months ago
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit has dismissed three prominent theologians—Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverria, and Edward Peters—from Sacred Heart Major Seminary 1 5. The dismissals, which occurred on July 23 for Martin and Echeverria, and "this week" for Peters, have generated significant controversy 1 5. The Archdiocese of Detroit has declined to comment on the personnel matters 1 5.
Ralph Martin, 82, had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2002, serving as the director of graduate programs in the New Evangelization 1 2 4 5. He is also a leading figure in the Catholic charismatic renewal, host of EWTN's "The Choices We Face," and was appointed a consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization by Pope Benedict XVI 1 5.
Eduardo Echeverria, 74, joined the faculty in 2003, teaching philosophy and systematic theology 1 5. He is known for his work in ecumenical dialogue and contributions to Catholic websites 1 5.
Edward Peters, a canon lawyer in his late 60s, had been a professor of canon law at the seminary since 2005, holding the Edmund Cardinal Szoka Chair 5. He was named a referendary to the Apostolic Signatura by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, the first layperson in that role 5.
All three theologians had publicly expressed concerns regarding doctrinal clarity under the late Pope Francis. Ralph Martin frequently cited what he perceived as a lack of clarity in Pope Francis' teaching, noting in his 2021 book A Church in Crisis that ambiguity was "almost a hallmark" of Francis' approach 1 5. He also criticized Pope Francis' 2024 comment expressing hope that hell is empty, calling it "extremely damaging" and playing into universalism, a heretical belief 1 2 4 5.
Eduardo Echeverria revised his 2015 book on Pope Francis in 2019, stating that Francis "contributed to the current crisis in the Church" due to a "lack of clarity, ambiguity of his words and actions" 1 5. He also questioned the orthodoxy of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia regarding pastoral and moral reasoning 5.
Edward Peters voiced "grave concerns" about Pope Francis' formal change to the Catechism's teaching on the death penalty in 2018, arguing that no pope could assert something with equivalent force for Christian consciences by a single ordinary act 5. Peters also criticized Pope Francis' handling of the sexual abuse crisis, particularly in the McCarrick case 5.
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger was installed in Detroit on March 18 1 2 4. Prior to these dismissals, he had already implemented controversial policies, including barring 13 parish churches from celebrating the traditional Latin Mass and banning the ad orientem posture from Novus Ordo liturgies in the archdiocese 1 5. Weisenburger cited Pope Francis' 2021 apostolic letter Traditiones Custodes to limit the Latin Mass to four churches 5.
Upon Pope Francis' death on April 21, Archbishop Weisenburger praised him as "the perfect man at the right time" and suggested he was "a saint" 2 4. He commended Francis' informal speaking style, stating he "didn’t measure anything" and "spoke from the heart," reflecting "something of the great prophets of Scripture" 2 4. The Archbishop acknowledged that prophetic speech might "rub some people the wrong way" but stated he was "okay with people who ask questions" 2 4.
The dismissals have ignited significant debate within Catholic circles. Ralph Martin stated that the news came as a "shock" and that Archbishop Weisenburger provided no specific reasons beyond "concerns about my theological perspectives" 2 4 5. Echeverria confirmed his termination but declined further comment due to a non-disclosure agreement 1 2 4 5. Peters announced he has retained counsel 5.
Reactions on social media have been divided. Eric Sammons, editor of Crisis magazine, described Archbishop Weisenburger's move as an "act of a thin-skinned, petty tyrant," asserting it was "about power and control" 1. Brian Holdsworth, a Catholic commentator, suggested it illustrates "why good Catholics don’t want to work for the Church" 1. Conversely, Mike Lewis, founder of Where Peter Is, called the terminations "necessary and overdue," arguing it was a "scandal" for these men to be involved in seminarian formation given their criticisms of Pope Francis 1.
What is the Church's teaching on obedience to authority?
The Catholic Church teaches that obedience to authority is a moral obligation, but it is not absolute. This teaching is rooted in the understanding that all authority ultimately derives from God, and therefore, legitimate authority serves the common good and the moral order .
The Church emphasizes that "there is no authority except from God" (Rom 13:1) . This means that governing authorities are considered "ministers of God" for the good of the people . Consequently, citizens are bound in conscience to obey legitimate civil authorities . This submission is not passive but is undertaken "for the sake of conscience" (Rom 13:5) .
While obedience to authority is a duty, it has clear limits. The Church teaches that civil authority is not absolute and is not autonomous from God's law or the earthly order established by God . The criterion for the lawfulness of state power is its conformity to God's law .
A crucial principle is that "We must obey God rather than any human authority" (Acts 5:29) . This means that citizens are obliged in conscience not to follow directives of civil authorities when those directives are contrary to:
When a human law is contrary to right reason and thus to eternal law, it is considered an unjust law and ceases to be a true law, becoming instead an act of violence . In such cases, refusing obedience to civil authorities is justified .
If state authority loses its legitimacy by failing to conform to God's law, the people have a right to resist and oppose such a government . However, even when under the oppression of an authority that oversteps its competence, citizens should still fulfill what is objectively demanded by the common good. Nevertheless, it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of authority within the limits of natural law and the Law of the Gospel .
Authority is understood as a moral force that must enact just laws, corresponding to the dignity of the human person and right reason . When authority governs according to reason, it places citizens in a relationship of obedience to the moral order and, ultimately, to God, who is its source . Conversely, if public authority fails to seek the common good, it abandons its proper purpose and delegitimizes itself .
In summary, the Church calls for responsible obedience to legitimate authority, recognizing its divine origin and its role in upholding the moral order and common good. However, this obedience is conditional upon the authority's adherence to God's law, and Christians are bound to prioritize obedience to God over any human command that contradicts divine law .