Wednesday, September 28, 2005
EMAIL FROM DR. BOND
Dear Friends,
Last week I informed you that Deacon Joseph Levine, former Superior General of the suppressed Society of St. John, had been assigned to work in a parish. Thanks be to God, Deacon Levine has been removed. Levine's removal was announced in the most recent weekly bulletin of Mother of Divine Providence Parish in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (http://www.mdpparish.com/parishlife/news.htm) where he had been assigned:
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Deacon Joseph Levine is a student at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary from the Diocese of Scranton. Earlier this month, he was assigned to Mother of Divine Providence Parish for weekend ministry. This consisted in his preaching and assisting at Sunday Masses.
Some parishioners learned that Deacon Levine has been named a party to a civil lawsuit. This is a defamation-related lawsuit. Deacon Levine has not been accused in this lawsuit, or at any other time, of the sexual abuse of a minor, or of any kind of sexual impropriety.
Having said that, the notoriety this lawsuit is generating could have a negative effect on his ministry as a deacon at Mother of Divine Providence. With that in mind, Saint Charles Seminary has withdrawn Deacon Levine from this parochial assignment.
Please join in praying for Deacon Levine and all who are in formation for the Priesthood, as well as for an increase in Vocations to the Priesthood and religious life.
Reverend Monsignor Joseph G. Prior
Rector, St. Charles Seminary
September 21, 2005
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Levine's removal was no doubt hastened by the recent release of the devastating Grand Jury report (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/21/AR2005092101022.html) exposing clergy sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Nevertheless, Levine has returned to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary where he is presumably still on track for ordination. Be assured that we will do everything in our power to prevent Levine from ever becoming a Catholic priest.
Thanks to all who spread the word about Deacon Levine so that the parishioners where he was assigned were informed concerning his immoral actions as Superior General of the suppressed Society of St. John.
Pax vobiscum,
Dr. Jeffrey M. Bond
