September 29, 2005

Sunday march planned to protest pastor's removal

NEWTON (MA)
Daily News Tribune

By Bernie Smith / Daily News Staff
Thursday, September 29, 2005

NEWTON -- Supporters of Rev. Walter Cuenin are expected to march Sunday at Archbishop Sean O'Malley's residence at the Boston Chancery in protest to the removal of the popular pastor and archdiocesan critic.

Cuenin, who had been the pastor of the Our Lady's Help of Christians Church since 1993, has been forced to resign his post amid accusations of financial mismanagement, a charge his supporters dispute.

The archdiocese has alleged Cuenin accepted monthly stipends in excess of what is permissible by its rules, and was improperly given use of a parish-leashed car. Cuenin has agreed to reimburse the parish between $75,000 and $85,000, even though the parish's own finance council approved his earnings and the archdiocese never objected in the past.

Posted by kshaw at September 29, 2005 08:42 AM