Cur vadis Fr. Fessio?

Here's a head-scratcher:

Father Fessio fired at Ave Maria

Father Joseph Fessio, SJ, has been abruptly dismissed as provost of Ave Maria University in Florida.

Father Fessio, the founder of Ignatius Press and publisher of Catholic World Report*, was asked to submit his resignation on March 21, and ordered to leave the Florida campus immediately. No public explanation of his dismissal has been offered.

The story is still breaking news with by-the-hour updates. More from me when I get it.

Update: Rocco has a fairly decent account of the events transpiring thus far. If you want on-the-ground information mixed in with plenty of obfuscation, you could browse this Fumare combox.

Update 2: A highlight from AMU's PR firm:

"Father Joseph Fessio, S.J. was asked to step down as Provost of the University as a result of irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices."

The next stage: "A general meeting of faculty and students is slated to begin at 4.30pm local time. Staff have been asked not to speak with the media."

Finally, some local coverage....

• NaplesNews: Top Ave Maria official dismissed (updates would appear here.)
• ABCNews 7 coverage

Update 3: AveWatch has a dossier on things Fr. Fessio.

Jacob Ogles seems to have gotten a few words in with Fr. Fessio:

Father Joseph Fessio said he had no indication before today that he would be asked to step down as provost of Ave Maria University.

"Obviously, I think it was a mistake, but I am not in charge," he said.

Fessio said he was asked to a private meeting this morning with chancellor Tom Monaghan. At the meeting, Fessio said he was asked to resign his position with the school, clear his office and leave campus by the end of the day. "I asked for a reason but was not given one," Fessio said.

No specific reasons were cited in an official statement released by university officials either. All calls to the university and to the development company planning the community around the fledging Catholic school were referred to the public relations department. Spokesmen for the school said no elaboration beyond the statement would be made.

...

But Fessio said his exit from Ave Maria University should free him up to focus more energy on his other endeavors.

"A great burden has been lifted off my shoulders," Fessio said. "Now I can pray and work for the Lord's vineyards in other ways."

....

Fessio said his ouster should not be percieved as a sign of further shake-up at the school.

"I'm probably just a lightning rod," he said. "I tend to stick out in a crowd."

In any case, there is clearly more to this story than is currently being presented.

Update 4: Rocco adds more from the town-hall style meeting held on the AMU campus this afternoon:

The hourlong general session of faculty and students took place 90 minutes after a meeting of the new campus' senior staff, at which the university's official statement (found below) was hammered out. A standing-room crowd packed a hall that seats around 300, as university president Nicholas Healy and other top officials offered their reflections. As with the earlier demonstration, the audience was largely pro-Fessio, with two standing ovations given the absent former provost -- the first of which came following a question from the floor asking for his reinstatement.

One of the causes of the "irreconcilable differences" mentioned.... a divergence on liturgical tastes.

My take? Tip of the iceburg, on everyside.

Update 5: Just a quick update before I head to bed, but Amy has a confirmed scoop that Fessio has been rehired in a different capacity and includes an email from Healy confirming this.