Cardinal’s claim disputed by Catholic theologian

An unusual public dispute is brewing between Washington Cardinal
Donald Wuerl and a feminist theologian who essentially accused Wuerl of
lying about the hierarchy's review of her work.

The feud between
Sister Elizabeth Johnson and the doctrine committee of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops—which Wuerl heads—escalated in late
October following the committee's renewed criticism of Johnson's
landmark book, Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God.

Wuerl
charged on October 29 that Johnson failed to respond to three offers to
meet with him to discuss the dispute. Johnson responded by saying she
was "aghast" at how Wuerl depicted the deteriorating relationship and
said Wuerl should retract the statement "for the sake of [his] own
reputation for truth-telling, and for the good of the church."