DAILY CATHOLIC     WEDNESDAY     August 19, 1998     vol. 9, no. 162

NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

To print out entire text of Today's issue, go to SECTION ONE and SECTION TWO

ROCHESTER PRIEST SAYS HE WAS FIRED FOR LIBERAL VIEWS

          ROCHESTER, New York (CWNews.com) - A priest of the Diocese of Rochester told his parish on Sunday that the Vatican had ordered he be removed as pastor for his "liberal" views.

          Father James Callan, 50, of Corpus Christi Parish announced at the parish's weekend Masses that the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had ordered Bishop Matthew Clark to reassign Father Callan for allowing women dressed in priestly garb to act as deacons during Masses, for actively distributing Holy Communion to non-Catholic Christians, and for engaging in ministry to homosexuals that did not adhere to the Church's teachings. Bishop Clark was not available for comment on the statement until late Monday, according to a diocesan spokesman.

          "I am being reassigned to another church so this church can be brought more in line with what the Vatican would like," Father Callan said. "But these are three issues that are at the heart of this church. These are not my issues, they are our issues, and I am not ashamed."

          Michael Macaluso of Citizens for a Decent Community said he was pleased by the removal since his group had complained to the bishop and the Vatican several times about Father Callan's excesses. "I just feel sorry we have to have a priest who is deposed, but we have to recognize the Church has laws for the good of souls and they must be obeyed," Macaluso said.


Articles provided through Catholic World News Service.
CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

August 19, 1998       volume 9, no. 162
NEWS & VIEWS

DAILY CATHOLIC

Back to HomePort    |    Back to Text Only Front Page     |    Back to Graphics Front Page     |    Archives     |    Why the DAILY CATHOLIC is FREE     |    Why we NEED YOUR HELP     |    What the DAILY CATHOLIC offers     |    Ports o' Call LINKS     |    Books offered     |    Who we are    |    Our Mission     |    E-Mail Us     |    Home Page