siuDE.com

A lecture scheduled to take place at the Newman Catholic Student Center in April has been canceled after it was deemed inappropriate by the Belleville Diocese bishop.

Luke Timothy Johnson, professor of theology at Emory University in Atlanta, was scheduled to give a lecture at the center on April 20, but Belleville Diocese Bishop Edward K. Braxton blocked the presentation, citing a need to protect the teaching authority of the Catholic Church.

Johnson did not criticize Braxton for his actions, but said he wished there would have been an open exchange because he had not even picked the topic for his lecture yet.

Johnson has spoken and written in the past in support of the ordination of women and homosexual marriage.

Bishop Braxton could not be reached for comment, but the Belleville News Democrat reported Braxton responded to an editorial in Commonweal, a national Catholic magazine, which criticized his actions.

"I do not wish Catholic institutions or organizations to invite speakers into the diocese who have written articles or given lectures that oppose, deny, reject, undermine or call into question the authentic teachings of the magisterium of the Catholic Church," Braxton wrote.

Johnson said the issue was probably not personal, and he doesn't hold any ill will toward Braxton. It was simply unfortunate they could not communicate on the issue, he said.

"I suspect (Braxton) has a certain impression of me," Johnson said.

Johnson said a similar situation has happened once before and does not discourage him from speaking. There are other places to talk, Johnson said.

"I see the job of a theologian to teach truth as best he can," Johnson said.

Jeff Jenkins, campus minister of the Newman Center, said Braxton cited problems in Johnson's teaching of theology when blocking the presentation, but would not discuss specifics. The bishop is responsible for all teachings that go on in his diocese, Jenkins said, and therefore can make the decision of what it shared.

Jenkins said if Johnson were to be asked to the campus again, the invitation would not come from the Newman Center.

Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or mleroux@siu.edu.

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