N.s. Priest Who Returned to Pulpit after Sex Crime Resigns

CTV
February 2, 2012

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120202/nova-scotia-priest-resigns-120202/

Rev. Wayne Lynch pleaded guilty in 1999 to indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the 1970s. He received a conditional sentence of two years less a day and was placed on probation for 18 months.

A Nova Scotia priest who returned to the pulpit after he was convicted of sexually assaulting an altar boy has resigned.

Rev. Ron Cutler, acting bishop of the Nova Scotia diocese, said in a statement provided to CTV News Thursday that he accepted Wayne Lynch's resignation "from any and all participation in the life of the parish" at St. Luke's Anglican Church in Annapolis Royal, N.S.

Culter sent the statement to Lynch's victim Glenn Johnson, who spoke to CTV News about his ordeal.

Some parishioners were outraged to see Lynch back after he pleaded guilty in 1999 to indecently assaulting 13-year-old Johnson in the 1970s.

Lynch received a conditional sentence of two years less a day and was placed on probation for 18 months.

After serving his sentence, Lynch slowly began regaining responsibilities at St. Luke's church.

"I was beyond stunned, I couldn't comprehend that any organization like the Anglican Church could do something like that again to me after this many years," Johnson told CTV News Wednesday.

Now living in Ottawa, Johnson has settled a lawsuit against the Church and says he was led to believe Lynch's days within the organization were over.

Lynch had been allowed to preach and read the gospel during Sunday masses. But "he has not been permitted to exercise any other function or take any other leadership or pastoral role," Cutler wrote to Johnson.

"He does not have a diocesan license and he is not employed by the diocese or the parish. There has been no intention by the diocesan bishop, and no expectation on Wayne Lynch's part, that he would ever have a license from the diocese or be appointed as parish rector or employed in any other capacity again," he wrote.

Lynch had voluntarily given up his priest's licence when he was charged.

Lynch has refused to comment.