Fr William Brennan, 94, died in a rest home in Wisconsin.

A Jesuit for 75 years and a priest for 63 years, he was a former missionary in Belize and make social justice his life's work.

Joining a November 2012 eucharistic liturgy celebrated by Janice Sevre-Duszynska, a woman ordained in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests movement, caused him to be sanctioned by the Jesuits and the Milwaukee archdiocese, where he lived.

His priestly faculties were suspended, and he was prohibited from leaving Milwaukee without permission and from appearing as a Jesuit at any public gathering, including protests and rallies.

He was also ordered not to contact the media "through phone, email, or any other means".

Fr Brennan later said he could not see why the issue of women priests should not be discussed.

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