Priest Stood down after Aged-Care Sale Criticism
By Joanne McCarthy
A CATHOLIC priest who was critical of the church's handling of the sale of its aged-care homes says he has been sacked and told to leave his Muswellbrook parish. Father James Lunn, a former financial analyst, was stood down from his position as parish priest on Friday after posting documents on the parish website detailing his clash with the Maitland-Newcastle diocese over the proposed sale of the $4.2million Mount Providence home. The documents proved that the diocese did not own the property but that it was owned by the parish. The Vatican became involved after documents sent to Rome to confirm the sale of the diocese's aged-care homes to the Little Company of Mary had to be altered to remove Mount Providence. The controversial aged-care sale was approved by former Maitland-Newcastle Bishop Michael Malone in late 2010. Bishop Malone refused to say what the sale was worth but confirmed compensation payouts to victims of paedophile priests was "certainly a factor" in the decision. Father Lunn also accused the diocese of withholding information from the parish about Mount Providence's financial returns. It meant the parish could not determine if it would benefit under a new management contract with the Little Company of Mary. "The facility is worth $4.2million. We receive $50,000 per annum. This amounts to a 1.2per cent return. I won't make the obvious comment," Father Lunn wrote. The priest, who has a postgraduate degree in management and who worked as a financial analyst, also raised questions about the $1.2million sale price for an aged-care centre, church and hall in the Singleton parish. Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush also expressed concern about the diocese's handling of the Mount Providence issue, saying the Muswellbrook community and the Catholic parish – not the diocese – raised the funds to build the home. Bishop Bill Wright said he recognised that Mount Providence was "an integral part of the Muswellbrook community". He said Father Lunn's six-year term as Muswellbrook parish priest had expired early this year. Although the priest applied for reappointment, Bishop Wright said he "made the decision not to reappoint him". The bishop said Father Lunn was appealing against the decision and "it is his right to do so". Father Lunn has had previous disputes with the diocese, particularly over the teaching of Catholicism in parish schools and the appointment of non-Catholic teachers. In 2010 Bishop Michael Malone asked the Vatican to investigate Father Lunn's suitability as a priest because of his "isolationist attitude".
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