Bill Parks Sticking to Story, The Observer, August 16, 2007

Bill Parks Sticking to Story

The Observer
August 16, 2007

http://observertoday.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=15131

Bill Parks maintains that his account of an altercation between him and Bishop Edward Kmiec is valid, even as the Diocese of Buffalo accuses him of falsity and claims witnesses to back their side.

Parks has cited his own witness in the incident, an old Dunkirk schoolmate, John Bailey of Ben Salem, Pa., who was attending a class reunion at the Clarion Hotel with him and says he was present for the entire altercation that took place there Aug. 11.

An answering machine was used by Parks to record a phone conversation between him and Bailey the evening of Aug. 14, after Parks said he had searched for a way to contact Bailey after he returned to Pennsylvania. Bailey, who did not know the conversation was being recorded, later agreed to have it submitted to Dunkirk Police, District Attorney David Foley and the OBSERVER.

This picture shows Bill Parks (left) and Bishop Edward Kmiec Saturday night at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk.

The recording features the two men discussing the events they say took place after a photo was taken of Bishop Kmiec and Parks, after which the bishop allegedly learned of Parks' identity as a co-founder of Catholic Parishioners Against Church Suppression (CPACS).

Bailey also gave a direct account when contacted by the OBSERVER, details matching what was discussed in the recorded conversation.

According to Bailey, he returned from the men's room and found Parks having a photo taken with the bishop in a room where a banquet appeared to have ended.

Bailey said he heard Parks tell the bishop that they were "pen pals" and, after the bishop inquired as to how, heard Parks reply by giving his name.

Bailey said the bishop immediately "went bananas" and began to repeatedly prod Parks' chest with his finger, something the diocese denies occurred.

"He got very loud and very vocal," Bailey said. "And his secretary was there — another priest — and he was very loud and vocal. And all I was trying to do was — I didn't think it was the right time and the right place for all this to be going on, but I wasn't really saying anything and I guess I was sort of shocked."

A man and woman Bailey didn't know stepped between the bishop and Parks, but he said they appeared to be more on the side of the bishop.

"Bill was not at any time confrontational, I didn't think," Bailey said. "I thought the bishop was, and I thought these people were, and that's when I got very concerned."

Shortly afterward, the bishop and Parks departed to separate ends of the room. Later that night, Parks went to Dunkirk Police Headquarters and filed an incident report.

Bailey said he understands how strongly the populations of local parishes being tagged for possible closing may feel toward preserving their religious heritages, but was still saddened by the apparent tension in his former hometown.

"It's a very emotional thing and maybe Kmiec doesn't see that," he said. "And I think Bill was very emotional about it and it's unfortunate in a way, and I just hope the problem gets solved."

The incident is still under investigation.