Detroit archbishop fires two longtime theologians from Sacred Heart Seminary

Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit has relieved two longtime professors of duties at Sacred Heart Seminary and has reportedly provided no reason for doing so.

Just a month and a half ahead of the new semester, Eduardo Echeverria, a professor of philosophy and systematic theology who joined the faculty in 2003, and Ralph Martin, a professor of theology and director of graduate programs in the new evangelization who joined the faculty in 2002, were both informed July 23 that their services would no longer be needed.

Martin said in a July 24 Renewal Ministries Facebook post that Archbishop Weisenburger told Martin July 23 “that he was terminating my position at the seminary effective immediately.”

“When I asked him for an explanation, he said he didn’t think it would be helpful to give any specifics but mentioned something about having concerns about my theological perspectives,” Martin added. 

“This news came as a shock,” Martin continued. “I have contributed much to the seminary over more than twenty-three years. I even helped introduce and lead, up until yesterday, our flagship pontifical degree program, the Licentiate of Sacred Theology Degree in the New Evangelization.”

Martin was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultant for the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization in 2011. Martin also serves as president of Renewal Ministries, an apostolate that “seeks to foster growth in holiness and evangelization with the power of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of souls,” according to its about page.

Martin is the author of the 2013 book The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call, as well as Will Many Be Saved?: What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization, which argues against universalism in favor of a strong emphasis on bringing Christ to those who do not know Him.

According to Catholic Culture, both Martin and Echeverria have been critical of certain aspects of Pope Francis’ pontificate, which some believe to have been the reason for the firings.

As recently as last month, Echeverria has published articles asking for clarification regarding some of Pope Francis’ more controversial statements and actions. In a June 7 essay for The Catholic Thing entitled “Five Challenges on Marriage and Family for Pope Leo,” Echeverria wrote, “Despite Francis’s affirmation of conjugal marriage, there are five things that he contributed to undermining it, at least to the perception that he could not unequivocally support conjugal marriage.”

Martin has also been concerned by some aspects of Pope Francis’ pontificate. While he welcomed what he saw as Pope Francis’ gifts to the Church, he expressed hesitancy about what he described in a 2018 open letter to “troubled Catholics” as “creeping universalism.” Martin has also expressed a desire for greater clarity in communication about the Church’s teachings on sexual ethics. Yet, Martin also cautioned against any action against the then-Holy Father that would constitute a schism or public rupture with the Church. One instance where he made those remarks was during an interview with Matt Fradd on Pints with Aquinas.

In his July 24 Facebook post, Martin reiterated this approach, saying “I want what I say about this situation to be truthful, but I also do not want to unnecessarily contribute to current polarization in the Church.”

At the time of publication, Echeverria has not posted publicly about the termination. 

The Archdiocese of Detroit declined to comment when approached by CatholicVote about the firings.

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