(RNS) A former Mormon who was excommunicated for producing a calendar that featured half-naked Mormon missionaries says he cannot afford to sue the church-owned university that withheld his diploma.

Chad Hardy, former missionary and a sixth-generation Mormon, placed his lawsuit on hold until either he raises $20,000 for legal fees or decides to represent himself without the aid of an attorney.

“It’s a sad reality we live in that the only way to protect your rights and challenge injustice is to have the enormous funds to do so,” he said in an e-mail. “Once I have the amount needed, I will move forward.”

Hardy was booted from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his “Men on a Mission Calendar” that showcased shirtless Mormon missionaries in seductive poses. Brigham Young University (BYU) is holding his degree until the church reinstates him as a member in good standing.

“They are angry at me for doing something outside of the box,” he said. The calendar “broke down stereotypes about the church and then (the church) put them back on.”

Hardy said he hoped to fight BYU’s decision to hold his degree based on claims that BYU did not follow its own Honor Code. He said that university officials failed to provide notice of their action or offer a timely appeal process.

Carri Jenkins, spokeswoman for BYU, said that the university had made their honor code clear in the school’s catalogue. “The student needs to be in good standing not only while they are at the university, but also when they graduate,” she said.

Jenkins also said BYU was unaware that Hardy was finishing his degree since it had been years since he had been on campus. She said school officials had difficulty contacting him to alert him that he was failing to meet requirements.

Hardy said he spent $10,000 to file a complaint, half of which was funded by donations. In total, he spent more than $14,000 of his own money toward the lawsuit.

Though he has the option of backing away from his calendars and future projects to appease the church, he said that his work is more important than his diploma.

“We are changing peoples’ perceptions. We’re changing people’s minds. We’re changing peoples’ lives,” he said. “That is more important to me than a degree at this point.