Tuesday, January 18, 2005
TWO PRIESTS RESIGN
Spirit Daily links the following story at Star Tribune via Free Republic:
Two Minneapolis priests who have led parishes sympathetic to gay and lesbian rights have announced their resignations.
The Rev. George Wertin of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, which has clashed with its archdiocese and some orthodox Catholics in the Twin Cities, announced his retirement Sunday effective July 1. And the Rev. Stephen O'Gara of the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle said last week he's leaving March 1.
Both said the timing of their announcements was coincidental, and they assured parishioners that they weren't pressured by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to leave.
The most curious line in the story is this comment made by Wertin:
He said it's time to move on after 40 years in ministry.
Move on to what? "You are a priest forever according to the Order of Melchizadek."