Ralph Martin Gets the Boot

From his seminary position, no less:

Two prominent theologians who critiqued what they saw as doctrinal ambiguity under the late Pope Francis have been fired from their longtime posts at the Archdiocese of Detroit’s major seminary by the local archbishop, the Register has confirmed.

Archbishop Edward Weisenburger removed Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria from their positions at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on July 23, both theologians told the Register separately. 

In a statement to Renewal, the Catholic charismatic apostolate founded and led by Martin, the theologian described his sudden termination as “a shock,” noting his 23 years of contributions to the seminary. He wrote that when he asked Archbishop Weisenburger for an explanation, the Detroit ordinary “said he didn’t think it would be helpful to give any specifics but mentioned something about having concerns about my theological perspectives.”

First, I think it’s a stretch to characterise Ralph Martin as a “theologian.” Such a title implies that he thinks through problems for solutions, and Martin spent too much time in “headship” mode during his years in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (where I came to know of him) to merit that moniker.

I’m pretty sure at the core of this dispute–his new Archbishop is an acolyte of the previous Occupant of the see of St. Peter–is his position on people going to Hell:

Martin frequently cited what he regarded as a lack of clarity in Pope Francis’ teaching, and wrote in his 2021 book A Church in Crisis that the then-pope was “reluctant to dispel” ambiguity, which was “almost a hallmark” of Francis’ approach. Following Pope Francis’ Jan. 14, 2024, statement that he liked “to think of hell as empty,” Martin penned a commentary in the Register arguing that the pope’s comments were “extremely damaging,” and played into “a widespread sympathy” toward universalism, the heretical belief that all are saved. 

I commented on Ralph Martin’s position in my post Winning the Lost is Better Than Counting Them. Martin is one of those people who, unlike the reverends peres Jesuites, thinks that Hell will be full. He was into it with Larry Chapp. I interjected with a quote from Bossuet to the effect that we should spend more time worrying about our own destiny and not obsess with others, adding that Bossuet in general is “more in a pastoral and soul winning frame of reference.” Chapp characterised that as sub-Christian.

Say what you will about Ralph Martin, he’s doubtless done more through his evangelistic efforts to send fewer to Hell and more to Heaven than Chapp has. And that probably is what got him the boot: people who see many going to Hell are motivated to change that while people who don’t are not. And happily I believe that Bossuet will be remembered long after Martin, Chapp and this archbishop are gone.