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	Parishioners Await Impact on Church By Miles Blumhardt The Coloradoan [Fort Collins CO] March 27, 2007 http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/NEWS01/703270338/1002 Former St. Elizabeth Ann Seton priest Tim Evans' conviction on three counts of sexual assault has some parishioners at the Catholic Church wondering how to address the issue with their children and how it will affect the church. Liz and Tim Osius, of Fort Collins, are members of the church, and one of their four children had his first communion performed by Evans. Now, they're struggling with how or if they should explain the wrongdoings of the former priest. "We're torn, and it disturbs us greatly," Liz Osius said. "I felt a need to hide the newspaper from my oldest child last week during the trial because of the front page news. I don't know how we would explain it. I keep telling Tim at some point they will hear of it. How do you explain something like this to kids that are told by the person not to sin?" Liz Osius is convinced about one thing. "I feel he is guilty, that it wasn't an isolated incident," she said. "I'm sorry it took so long and feel bad for the families who went through this ordeal." Parishioners who agreed to be quoted for this story said they believe there is some division within the church concerning Evans' past but don't believe the conviction will tear the parish apart. "I don't think it will have any effect (on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)," said Don Wunsch, a longtime parishioner who said he liked Evans. "The church is growing all the time. If it was going to have an effect, it would have happened." Lisa Stadele, another longtime church member, said it's time to heal. "I think it will tear some people apart for a while," she said. "I hope that we don't let it become divisive. We all need to heal from this, to support each other in this." Ray Sons, a member of the church for the past 15 years, said he hopes good can come from the conviction. "It's tough for all of us who are Catholics," he said. "I wish that our new pope would be more favorable to married priests and ordination of women. I think we would have a better culture of the priesthood." Contact: MilesBlumhardt@coloradoan.com
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