By Matthew Benns
Sydney Morning Herald
February 6, 2010
http://www.smh.com.au/national/priest-who-faked-cancer-resurfaces-20100206-njwj.html
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| Father Abourjaily...delusions. |
A CATHOLIC priest who lied about having cancer to raise money from his Sydney flock has been quietly moved to work in the church in Perth.
Father Richard Abourjaily was branded "delusional" by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, and suspended from his duties at All Hallows parish church at Five Dock when his lies were uncovered.
The priest told parishioners he had prostate cancer and used money they gave him to take a trip to Lourdes in France to seek a "miracle cure".
The lying priest's spiritual adviser believes he has "repented" and is ready to continue his work in the church.
Father John Flader, director of the Catholic Adult Education Centre, said he was "very confident" the priest would not lie about anything serious again. "All he did was to lie and that's not a good thing. He was very, very repentant of that and, being as repentant as he was, he is not going to reoffend again," Father Flader said.
Father Abourjaily was sent home early from the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter Seminary in Lincoln, Nebraska, for telling similar lies about his health.
But Father Flader was confident Father Abourjaily would not lie a third time. "We can never be sure and we are all human but I think in any serious matter he knows the serious consequences and he will not lie about anything serious again," Father Flader said.
The move infuriated a fellow priest who, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "What other victims will he now seduce?
"Why does the church just cover up scandal and just move priests about? Have we learnt nothing from the sex abuse scandals?
"Why wasn't he dismissed from the clerical state and sacked from the priesthood altogether?"
Father Brian O'Loughlin confirmed the priest was in Perth with the permission of Cardinal Pell and had been helping out in a local parish.
Father Abourjaily could not be contacted because was away on a "pilgrimage".
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