Home // May 7-11 2012 > Married priest was not sacked but left of his own accord

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Married priest was not sacked but left of his own accord

Published: May 07, 2012

Fr Kevin Lee was not sacked from his ministry for getting married but left of his own accord, said Bishop Anthony Fisher in a homily on the weekend, which was published on the Diocese of Parramatta website.

"I want to assure you that, contrary to the scuttlebutt, no punitive action has been taken by the Diocese of Parramatta against Fr Kevin. He has not been excommunicated. He has not been evicted," Bishop Fisher said in his homily to Fr Lee's former congregation at the Padre Pio Glenmore Park parish, in Sydney's west.

"He has refused to take calls from me and the diocesan office, and has not communicated his intentions to the Church except through the media. So I was as shocked as you were and knew as little about all this when it happened.

"Like many of you, I am concerned for Kevin’s welfare and now that of his wife and for all of those who have been affected by his actions over the past few days. We all know that Church law and Catholic tradition make it impossible for Kevin to remain as Parish Priest if he has entered into a marriage.

"But he has left his ministry and his presbytery of his own accord."

FULL STORY The Bishop's homilies (Diocese of Parramatta)

 

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Recent Comments

  1. A very well said homily. Thank you, Bishop Fisher.

    Posted By: Van,

  2. Thank you, Bishop Fisher, for a great example of leadership in the Church,
    going out to the people of the parish as their Bishop and being with them, speaking with them and celebrating Mass with them in this difficult time.

    Posted By: RSmith

  3. The Church already has married clergy. It is only time before we allow it more freely.
    There is a place and value for celibacy. But compulsory? It's coming to an end.

    Posted By: Paul

  4. It seems that the Church again is being falsely pilloried as the implacable bully, who hounds another priest acting in good conscience, from his parish.
    This narrative spun by the media has been undermined by the revelation that he went of his own accord. Despite the regrettable loss of the priest with respect to his flock, the bishop has shown prudent judgement in regards to the whole situation.

    Posted By: Gerry McIvor

  5. Good for you, Bishop Fisher.
    It's great that you'll engage with these uninformed and probably ill-intentioned critics - for the average person, failure to reply admits guilt!
    Another issue is the complete lack of compassion shown by Kevin Lee for his parishioners.
    I have every sympathy for a man who in honesty can no longer live his vow, and takes the necessary steps to leave the priesthood. But to sneak off without so much as a note on the pincushion, leaving behind people who had trusted him with the the most important issues in their lives - well, it feels like contempt to me. What did he think a priest's relationship with his parish is?

    Posted By: Joan Seymour

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