BOTHELL (WA)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
By JAKE ELLISON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
The Bothell priest who told his congregation that a priest molested him when he was a child, then took a leave of absence from his duties, has resigned.
The Rev. Lawrence Minder told friends and parishioners of St. Brendan Catholic Church in a letter dated March 15 that he was leaving the priesthood after four months of inpatient treatment at a trauma center in Arizona.
"I need to move on," Minder wrote in his letter. He said he had underestimated the impact of his sexual abuse and the effect of staying with an "institution which has proven to be untrustworthy."
Comparing his relationship with the church to that of a person who stays with an abusive spouse, Minder said he was sad to leave but hoped "this step will free me to live a happier and healthier life in the future."
Seattle Archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni didn't return telephone calls by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer yesterday.
This is the second time Minder has resigned from the church.
Posted by kshaw at March 26, 2005 03:25 AM