By Julie Mack
Kalamazoo Gazette
March 14, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/03/episcopal_priest_jay_r_lawlor.html
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| The Rev. Jay Lawlor |
The former pastor of St. Luke's Episcopal Church has been charged with assault and battery for allegedly shoving an elderly parishioner last week, according to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office.
The charges were officially authorized today, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein, but an arraignment has yet to be scheduled. Because the charge is a misdemeanor, Rev. Jay R. Lawlor will be contacted by police and allowed to turn himself for booking, she said.
Neither Lawlor, 41, who resigned last week from St. Luke's, nor the victim in the case, Marcia Morrison, 76, could be reached for comment.
Morrison was not injured in the incident, which occurred March 6 immediately after Lawlor headed Sunday morning service for the church, which is located in downtown Kalamazoo.
The charge is a misdemeanor, and conviction could result in a fine of up to $500 and/or a 93-day jail sentence. Klein said that the typical sentence in such a case is probation or a fine.
"There's lots of different factors involved," she said. "This is a case where the victim can address the court, and the community can address the court. There may be members of the church community who want to speak out."
Church members say that there has been tension in the parish since Lawlor started as rector two years ago. Last fall, the diocese office got involved in trying to resolve the dispute. On March 2, Bishop Robert Gepert sent a letter to parishioners informing them that he was taking over the parish and disbanding its lay board.
Gepert also announced at that time that Lawlor would be going on a four-month leave, but first Lawlor had been ordered to downsize the church staff. On March 3, Lawlor terminated the employment of the parish secretary, music director and facilities manager.
Morrison told police that she approached Lawlor after Sunday's service and told him that the changes were "unconscionable," according to the police report from the incident.
After talking to Lawlor, she stood nearby as another congregant, Thomas Folkert, got into a heated discussion with the priest.
Witnesses said that Lawlor and Folkert did not touch each other, but as Lawlor walked away, the priest used his arm to shove Morrison, who stumbled backward for several feet before she grabbed a pew to keep from falling.
Lawlor told police that Folkert poked him several times in the chest and tried to block Lawlor from leaving. Lawlor said the only contact that he had with Morrison was "as he turned to leave, she bumped into him."
"Lawlor stated that he never shoved Marcia and that she never stumbled backwards down the aisle, stating 'They're lying' (in) reference to the statements I had taken from witnesses," the police report said.
Lawlor submitted his resignation three days after the incident.
Morrison initially told police that she did not want to seek charges in the case, but changed her mind the next day.
Klein said that even though Morrison was not injured, the prosecutor's office is required to file charges "if we have a situation where there is reasonable, probable cause and the complainant wants to go forward."
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