On March 18,2011, Fr. Bourgeois was given a letter from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers notifying him that he had 15 days to recant his support for women's ordination or he would face expulsion from the Order.
On March 18,2011, Fr. Bourgeois was given a letter from Fr. Edward M. Dougherty, Maryknoll's Superior general, and Edward J. McGovern, the Secretary general. This warned him that he had 15 days to recant his support for women's ordination or he would face expulsion from the Order.