A clarification on Tom Brodie’s leaving the Irish Dominicans

The text below also appears under the post  'More thoughts on the late Tom Brodie, former Dominican’, published on Wednesday, April 8. 

The piece below is written by Vivian Boland, who served for a number of years as an assistant to the Master of the Order. He is a theologian, author and teacher.

This blog cherishes dialogue and open discussion. 

Vivian Boland’s clarification:

"In fairness to all involved: it is not correct that Tom Brodie was 'summarily dismissed' from the Order by a 'committee of experts’. 

"On the publication of his book there were conversations between Tom and at least two commissions of the brothers. 

"One was appointed by the Irish province and when it found against his book he appealed to the Master of the Order, as was his right. 

"The Master established another, international, commission to review the situation and the decision of the Irish province. That commission also found against Tom's book, judging the views it put forward to be unfounded. 

"The same judgement came from the theologians and biblical scholars who contributed to a special issue of Doctrine & Life which considered his arguments. 

"Neither commission had the authority, nor did either attempt, to dismiss Tom from the Order. It is true that he could no longer preach or teach in the name of the Order or of the Church and he decided then to request laicisation. 

"But he was not dismissed from the Order, nothing was done 'summarily', and 'committees of experts' were not involved at any stage with the question of his membership of the Order."