December 12, 2005

Banned priest finds support

DETROIT (MI)
The Detroit News

Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News

Some frustrated parishioners at St. Thomas a' Beckett Catholic Church are planning to halt their contribution to the Archdiocese of Detroit on coming weekends to protest the Vatican's decision that their former pastor, accused of molesting an altar boy, can no longer present himself as a priest.

Six percent of the $24,000 that is collected weekly at the Canton parish is sent to the Archdiocese of Detroit, but all of the funds will stay at the church during the Christmas collection. Organizers of the financial boycott are trying to encourage others to withhold their weekly offering and put it all in the Christmas collection.

They hope to send a message about what they believe was injustice for C. Richard Kelly, who was permanently barred from performing priestly duties or wearing clerical garb and reportedly plans to appeal the decision that was announced last week.

"I prayed and prayed over this because I knew it would have big ramifications," said Mary Albus, a parishioner who began the movement and has received support from many.

Posted by kshaw at December 12, 2005 07:08 AM