Priest innocent - Fr Swaratsingh stays!

Roman Catholic Archbishop Edward J Gilbert has cleared controversial priest Fr Kennedy Swaratsingh of charges of financial and personal impropriety and the priest is to stay as parish priest of St Patrick’s RC Church, Newtown.

In a statement to the media yesterday, Gilbert declared: “As a result of the pastoral visitation, I find no basis at the present time to change personnel at St Patrick’s parish.” The ruling came exactly a week after 300 parishioners attended a pastoral visitation led by Gilbert at which they overwhelmingly supported Swaratsingh, for re-vitalising the church and some threatening to leave if he had to go.

In introducing the ruling, Gilbert said: “The visitation team shares the opinion of those with whom it spoke that the administrator is a gifted gentleman who has touched the lives of many people in a positive manner. It also supports the pastoral initiatives he has instituted to facilitate collaborative ministry in the parish.” The Archbishop said the judgment had been unanimously supported by the visitation team consisting of himself, Fr Allan Ventour, Fr Kenneth Spence and Fr Martin Sirju, and by the archdiocesan personnel board.

On the charge of  “personal witness”, Gilbert ruled: “While allegations of sexual misconduct have been made, the allegations have not been substantiated. Consequently the presumption of innocence must be respected”. On the issue of Church finances, Gilbert said: “There have been questions about the financial administration of the parish. In fairness to all parties, I have ordered an audit of the financial records of the parish. Once the audit is complete, I shall personally chair a meeting with the financial committee of the parish with representatives of the Archdiocesan Financial Council”.

On the matter of liturgy-preaching-teaching, Gilbert said he had been assured of a positive response to his request that the church’s liturgy be followed. He added: “I find no evidence of anti-magisterium preaching or teaching by the administrator of the parish. “However I do recommend that the administrator give more attention to pastoral prudence in choosing practical examples for preaching and teaching.”

On the question of pastoral availability, Gilbert said that a pre-appointment agreement meant that he should have been told of Swaratsingh’s change of plans, to also pursue secular employment. Gilbert concluded that the significant tensions among some in St Patrick’s would not just disappear over  time but needed to be processed, to heal and build the Christian community. In an immediate response yesterday, Swaratsingh who was at his church, conducting three consecutive meetings in preparation for Holy Week celebrations, politely declined comment, saying “I’d prefer not to be in the news, but thanks for coming, anyway.”

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"Priest innocent – Fr Swaratsingh stays!"

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