You may recall the celebrated (and in some quarters, notorious) Maryknoll priest who took part in a woman’s ordination service some weeks back.

Well, he’s in the news again:

Maryknoll Fr. Roy Bourgeois has been threatened with excommunication by the Vatican’s Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for his support of women’s ordination, according to a letter made public today.

The letter was written by Bourgeois and addressed to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. It was distributed via e-mail by Bill Quigley, a New Orleans lawyer who represents Bourgeois.

According to Bourgeois’ letter, which is dated Nov. 7, the congregation has given him 30 days to recant his “belief and public statements that support the ordination of women in our Church, or (he) will be excommunicated.”

The letter indicates that Bourgeois received notification from the congregation Oct. 21.

Bourgeois, a priest for 36 years, attended the ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska in Lexingon, Ky., Aug. 9 and preached a homily.

If Bourgeois is excommunicated at the end of 30 days, it would come just before the mass rally and protest against the U.S. Army’s School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., that Bourgeois has organized for 19 years. In recent years, more than 15,000 people, many of them Catholic university students, have joined the three daylong rally and demonstration.

The text of Bourgeois’ letter can be found at this link.

UPDATE: Catholic News Service has an interview with Fr. Bourgeois, and more details.

UPDATE II: Canon lawyer Ed Peters has a few thoughts on this, too, citing specific canons that may be involved, and notes that the good father will likely be dispatched from the clerical state, as well.

UPDATE III: The New York Times has now gotten into the act. And Sidney Callahan has some thoughts over at America’s blog.