ROCKWALL (TX)
The Dallas Morning News
10:20 PM CST on Sunday, February 6, 2005
By BROOKS EGERTON / The Dallas Morning News
ROCKWALL – An embattled pastor announced his resignation Sunday, making him the second Dallas Catholic Diocese priest in a week to fall in connection with sexual misconduct allegations.
The Rev. William "Bill" Richard said he was leaving Our Lady of the Lake Church to bring "peace and reconciliation" to the parish, where protesters recently began pressing Dallas Bishop Charles Grahmann to remove him. They have cited Father Richard's efforts to save the job of a top aide – who is serving probation for indecent exposure – and his dismissal of critics from church positions.
Bishop Grahmann responded to the campaign by seeking Father Richard's resignation last week. It is highly unusual for him to give in to parishioners' personnel demands, especially given the diocese's severe shortage of priests – one was arrested on child pornography charges last week in Grand Prairie, and another recently was suspended for planning to get married.
Posted by kshaw at February 7, 2005 06:56 AM