Bishops defend criticism of woman theologian

Under fire for criticizing a popular theologian, the U.S. Catholic
bishops said they must occasionally assume the role of referee and rule
wayward thinkers out of bounds.

"Once ideas are written and
published by a theologian, they must stand on their own," Cardinal
Donald Wuerl, chairman of the U.S. bishops' committee on doctrine, said
in a statement. "It is the bishops who are entrusted with the office of
referee, who must call the play."

Early in April, Wuerl's
committee criticized a book by Elizabeth Johnson that is widely used in
Catholic universities and colleges. The book, Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God, criticizes and revises traditional church teaching, the bishops said.