NUNTIATORIA

A Seminary in Turmoil: Detroit Archbishop Accused of Violating Civil and Canon Law

Seminary Faculty Sound Alarm
A leaked letter has accused Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit of breaking seminary statutes, violating legally binding contracts, and even disregarding civil law. Faculty members at Sacred Heart Major Seminary describe the result as a “climate of fear and uncertainty,” raising grave concerns for academic freedom and the institution’s future.

The Sudden Firings
In July 2025, three senior professors were abruptly dismissed: Dr. Ralph Martin, theologian and long-time teacher of evangelisation; Dr. Eduardo Echeverria, professor of philosophy and systematic theology; and Dr. Edward N. Peters, distinguished canonist. All three men had served for decades, their appointments stretching back to the early 2000s. The dismissals came without warning or explanation, save for vague references to “theological perspectives” at odds with the archbishop’s own views¹.

Each professor confirmed that no concrete charges were levelled. Martin noted that when he sought clarity, the archbishop declined to specify concerns. Echeverria was offered severance conditioned on a non-disclosure agreement, while Peters publicly stated he had “retained counsel”².

Handbook and Contractual Protections Ignored
The Faculty Handbook of Sacred Heart Major Seminary requires that dismissals be accompanied by written notice, documented grounds, and a peer review process before a three-member panel. None of these steps were taken in the present case³.

Moreover, seminary faculty contracts are issued in six-year terms, guaranteeing salary and position unless proper procedures are followed. The anonymous faculty letter asserts that the dismissals without cause constitute a breach of contract, leaving intact each professor’s right to salary for the remainder of his term. Instead, one year’s severance pay was offered, contingent upon silence⁴.

“While it is true that the Archbishop of Detroit has governing authority over the seminary, that authority must be exercised in a manner consistent with the seminary’s governing documents and faculty contracts in order to keep faith with the SHMS faculty,” the letter declares⁵.

A Climate of Fear
Faculty testimony describes the atmosphere left in the wake of the firings. One priest-professor wrote that the archbishop spoke for less than five minutes at a mid-August faculty meeting, refusing to elaborate on his decisions. He cited “conscience” as his motive, claiming that further explanation might violate non-disclosure agreements.

This reluctance, according to the email circulated to bishops and laity, left faculty “shocked and saddened,” feeling that they now live under constant threat of sudden removal. “By failing to give a clear explanation for what theological norms these professors violated, we are left in the dark. This has created a climate of fear and uncertainty,” the message warns⁶.

Institutional Consequences
The anonymous letter emphasises that the dismissals have already damaged morale, trust, and reputation. Bishops and religious communities who send seminarians to Detroit are reported to be “livid” at the manner of the firings, and some are reconsidering whether to entrust students to the seminary. Declining confidence could impact both enrolment and income in the coming year⁷.

Accreditation agencies have reportedly been notified, and complaints filed, raising the prospect of external review⁸.

A Wider Context
Archbishop Weisenburger, installed in Detroit in March 2025, has already courted controversy. He has sharply curtailed the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, reducing the number of churches offering it from ten to four. He has also banned the ancient ad orientem posture at Mass, going further than Pope Francis’ already restrictive motu proprio Traditionis Custodes⁹.

The dismissals of Martin, Peters, and Echeverria—well-known for their theological orthodoxy—suggest a deliberate attempt to shift the seminary’s direction away from its reputation for fidelity to tradition.

Conclusion
The affair reveals a disturbing tension between episcopal authority and the rights of faculty bound by written statutes and contracts. By acting without due process, Archbishop Weisenburger has provoked allegations of civil and canonical impropriety. The anonymous faculty letter concludes with a warning: if confidence is not restored, Sacred Heart Major Seminary risks not only its reputation but its very viability as a place of priestly formation. 🔝

1. Joshua J. McElwee, “Detroit archbishop fires 3 Sacred Heart seminary theologians who criticized Pope Francis,” National Catholic Reporter, July 24, 2025.
2. Ralph Martin and Edward Peters, quoted ibid.
3. J.D. Flynn, “What is Sacred Heart Seminary’s protocol for dismissing professors?” The Pillar, July 25, 2025.
4. “Leaked Letter Accuses Detroit Archbishop of Breaking Civil Law,” Stella Maris Media, Aug. 28, 2025.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter, July 24, 2025.