April 23, 2006

Breakaway church has Mass for accused priest, slain nun

TOLEDO (OH)
Toledo Blade

By DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR

Members of a fledgling Catholic church not affiliated with the Toledo diocese offered prayers yesterday for the Rev. Gerald Robinson and Sister Margaret Ann Pahl.

Resurrection PolishAbuse Tracker Catholic Church, formed in February mostly by local Catholics whose churches were closed by Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair, offered a Mass of intention for Father Robinson, on trial for murder in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, and Sister Margaret Ann, the Roman Catholic nun he is accused of killing on April 5, 1980.

"It is not because of the trial. Everybody needs prayers," said the Rev. Jaroslaw Nowak, pastor. "We don't judge. We just ask God for truth and justice and healing."

About 30 people attended the service in Sylvania's Advent Lutheran Church, which Resurrection rents for its 4 p.m. Mass each Saturday.

Posted by kshaw at April 23, 2006 09:26 AM