by The province has passed legislation that removes the requirement for the Bishop of Antigonish to serve as chancellor at St. F. X. University.
The change opens the door to women and non-Catholics becoming chancellor.
The effort to make the change began about four years ago when students on campus protested former bishop Raymond Lahey’s role as chancellor.
Lahey was caught with hundreds of pornographic images of young boys on his computer and was later sentenced to 15 months in jail and stripped of his clerical powers.
Under the legislation, the bishop will continue to serve the university in a newly created position called the Vicar of the Founder.
He will not be excluded from consideration for the chancellorship.
The governing Liberals say current Bishop Brian Dunn helped draft the changes.
Meanwhile, not everyone is happy with the new rules.
Father Douglas MacDonald with the Margaree Family of Catholic Churches warns the changes will affect recruitment and fundraising at St. F. X.
He adds he knows of major donors who are pulling the plug over the changes.