The University of San Diego has reversed its decision to award Rosemary Radford Ruether the honorary Msgr. John R. Portman Chair in Roman Catholic Theology for the 2009-10 academic year.

Ruether sits on the Board of Directors of Catholics for Choice, which today issued a press release calling on Catholics to petition their bishops to end the ban on contraceptives. The release stated: “In their calls and e-mails, Catholics should press their bishops to contact the Vatican, explain the will of Catholics worldwide and call for an end to the ban on contraception.”

Ruether also publicly dissented from Catholic teachings on the Eucharist in her book Sexism and God-talk. She wrote: “Eucharist is not an objectified piece of bread or cup of wine that is magically transformed into the body and blood of Christ. Rather, it is the people . . . who are being transformed into the body of the new humanity, infused with the blood of new life.”

Ruether was initially recruited by Lance Nelson, USD Theology department chair, after faculty members attended one of her lectures. Last Friday, however, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Pamela Gray Payton contacted LifeSiteNews and informed them that the university had reversed its decision.

"Upon review of the specific purpose of the Monsignor John R. Portman Chair in Roman Catholic Theology, the University of San Diego is no longer considering the appointment of Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether as the 2009-2010 Chair holder," Payton told LifeSiteNews.

A donor reportedly intervened upon hearing of the selection of Ruether. USD Provost Julie Sullivan subsequently contacted Ruether about the withdrawl of the invitation. She informed her that the Theology department “had not consulted with the donor and the donor had a different vision” of the honorary chair.