St. Edward’s University has given the spotlight to Charles Curran, a priest and critic of Catholic Church teachings, by inviting him to campus on Oct. 18.

Now a professor at Southern Methodist University, Curran will give The Most Reverend Bishop John McCarthy Lecture Series on the Catholic Church in the 21st Century. He will speak on “The Life and Legacy of Pope John XXIII.”

The Austin, Tex., university prominently features advance publicity for the speech on its website.

Curran was at the center of controversy while at The Catholic University of America in the 1980s. He was known for his strong dissent on positions of Church moral positions, including Humanae Vitae.

He was finally relieved of his post in 1986 by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which was led by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI).

Joseph Esposito, Cardinal Newman Society director of research, said, “It seems incomprehensible that St. Edward’s would invite such a Church critic to speak on Pope John XXIII. What positive purpose does such an act serve?”

Bishop Gregory Aymond of the Diocese of Austin criticized the university's selection of Curran as a speaker.  He said, "I believe that it does not foster the Catholic identity of a university to present him as a guest lecturer."  The bishop also indicated that he would like to have a role in choosing future speakers at St. Edward's.