SEWICKLEY, Pa. -- A Roman Catholic priest is being transferred to another parish because he told his congregation in an impassioned Easter sermon that the church should ordain women and let priests marry.

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh confirmed that the Rev. Bill Hausen was being transferred from St. James Catholic Church in suburban Sewickley to Sacred Heart Parish in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood as a result of the sermon.

CHURCH SCANDALS Highlights Of Sex Abuse Response Proposal Meeting Of Bishops: Will It Help? Timeline For Boston Archdiocese Church Too Lenient? Should Celibacy Be Optional? Explaining Pedophilia Discuss: What Can The Church Do? Your Thoughts On The Policy Recommendations?

"If that homily had not been delivered, he may not be transferred now," said the Rev. Ronald Lengwin, spokesman for the diocese. "There's no question that that was the catalyst."

Lisa Oliver, a lifelong parishioner, said Hausen used coarse language in telling people they should be angry about the pedophilia scandal.

Lengwin said the national scandal over priests accused of pedophilia doesn't give priests the right to air their personal opinions in the pulpit.

Hausen did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday left on his voice mail at St. James, where he plans to say goodbye after Masses on Sunday. A secretary said Hausen is on leave this week.

Hausen did write the congregation a letter of apology in which he said his comments "should have been reserved to a classroom discussion and as 'my personal opinion."' He also apologized for what he called his first use of profanity during a sermon in 37 years.

"We have to be very careful at this time that we are fostering unity and not division by what we do," Lengwin said. "When people come to the church, they're not looking for someone's opinion at the pulpit. They want to know what the truth is, what is the meaning of the revelations provided by God."

The diocese last month said "several" priests were removed from church duty after two decades of records were reviewed for allegations of sexual misconduct under stricter standards developed in the wake of the national scandal. Similar actions were taken nationwide following revelations in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Lengwin has refused to say how many priests were removed, but said the incidents weren't widespread. The Pittsburgh diocese has 354 active priests in 215 parishes in six southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

Sheila Lenehan, a 40-year member at St. James, said the congregation applauded Hausen's sermon, "but I do think it was the wrong place to do it, even though I clapped."

Oliver and other parishioners say they're trying to keep Hausen at St. James. They distributed support ribbons for people to wear at Masses this past weekend and are collecting signatures of support to send to the diocese.

"This is not a man who maliciously maligned the church. He sees the need for change in the church," Oliver said.

"Father Bill didn't follow the party line. He spoke out and the biggest one that got him in trouble is that he felt women should be ordained as priests."