October 28, 2005

Bishop says unauthorized group raising money for Arizona priest

SOUTH BEND (IN)
KVOA

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An advocacy group for Catholic priests facing legal problems is sending letters to members of a South Bend parish in an effort to raise money for the defense of a former priest at the church who faces child molesting charges in Arizona.

The Detroit-based group, Opus Bono Sacerdotii, is not authorized by the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend to make such an appeal, Bishop John M. D'Arcy said Thursday.

The group is seeking money for the defense of the Rev. Paul LeBrun, 49, formerly a priest at South Bend's Little Flower Catholic Church.

D'Arcy said he has never heard of Opus Bono or its president, Joseph R. Maher, who signed the letter.

Posted by kshaw at October 28, 2005 07:41 PM