June 13, 2005

Troubled priest's plans change

BAKERSFIELD (CA)
The Bakersfield Californian

By AMY HILVERS, Californian staff writer
e-mail: ahilvers@bakersfield.com

Posted: Sunday June 12th, 2005, 9:25 PM
Last Updated: Sunday June 12th, 2005, 11:49 PM

A priest with a troubled past, who was to join a Bakersfield church, has asked not to be sent here after all.

Monsignor Ronald Swett told the St. Philip the Apostle Church parish Sunday that the Rev. Jean-Michael Lastiri would not be coming because he didn't want "to be the cause of division and condemnation in the parish."

Lastiri left St. Patrick's Parish in Merced last year amid allegations of having sexual conversations on the Internet and misusing church money, the Merced Sun-Star reported in May. Lastiri was to join the Bakersfield church this week.

Swett read a letter from Bishop John Steinbock of the Diocese of Fresno, to the parish. Both Steinbock and Swett said the media had sensationalized and misrepresented the situation.

"Because of the ferment and division his appointment is causing in the area, Fr. Lastiri himself has asked me not to be sent to St. Philip's. He does not want to be the cause of division and condemnation in the parish," Steinbock's letter said.

"Unfortunately, a good deal of gossip and misinformation have distorted public perception and seeks to frame Fr. Lastiri's appointment within the context of the clergy sexual abuse scandal. This is simply not the case."

Posted by kshaw at June 13, 2005 04:10 AM