Catholic journalist and blogger Robert Kumpel tells his story of how investigating something at his parish got him banned from his parish (only one in town) by the Bishop.
He also tells part of the story on his blog.
Some background on the scandal in question since he is restricted about mentioning anything about his investigation himself.
13 comments
None of the links explaining the scandal work. So, what’s this about?
Wow, that’s a pretty amazing story. Several things come to mind. First, this is essentially denying of sacraments over a civil disagreement. Isn’t there some appeal that Mr. Kumpel can make with higher ecclesiastical authorities than his local bishop? There has to be some structure in place to check misuse of authority of local bishops. Second, this is certainly indicative of the kind of behavior that a small number of priests from the old generation suffered from. Back then, with a large Catholic family, one boy would be all but forced into the priesthood, resulting in a lot of priests that really were going through the motions. A priest and bishop from the Old Country, both of the pre-Vatican II generation? Bingo. I think I’m warm here. And lastly, if I were him, I’d move out of the diocese. It sounds as though his faith and exercise thereof is a central thing in his life, so it’s either that or wait the bishop out. Even if there is a process that the Church has to resolve these matters, it would probably take years to do so, and would be a long shot.
I will say that it sounds like the only thing that could move this case without involving the Vatican would be either very high powered Catholic lawyers working for free, or a campaign to publicize this and keep the light shining on this parish for a long, long time to come.
A sad story, and brings into relief how human the Church is. Honestly, they’re acting like children, and not as fully human, adult Christians.
Sad indeed.
It sounded like my former parish in California, where several longtime members of the parish were ejected, while the current pastor has said publicly that he’ll leave if he finds the right woman.
Too bad this sort of thing is happening anywhere in the country.
As a former journalist, continuing Catholic, Knight of Columbus, and banished parishioner, my prayers are for this man and his family.
I’m not so sure..
There are professional boundaries and guidelines to a avoid conflict of interest in every profession. I don’t think that investigating one’s own pastor in a small town is an action of investigative reporting. I’m sure that if the gentleman in question had subpoenaed his neighbor’s or his dentist’s travel records because he suspected an affair or some similar impropriety, we would see the case rather differently. I’m sure my fellow singles can imagine if the same happened to us because we went on a vacation with a long time friend and co-worker.
I don’t know the details of this case beyond the links posted above or whether there are enough reasons for suspicion, but I think that we need to tune down our scandal sensitivity meters a little bit if we expect the Catholic culture to thrive. A priest in the company of ANYONE is now cause for suspicion. And we have ruled out the notion of celibate friendship entirely. We don’t really believe in it.
I just hope that this “reporter” had something more than rumors of matching outfits and PDA’s from parishioners to substantiate his investigation. And unless it was part of a commissioned investigation or story of a publication, it sounds like stalking to me..
Other than prayer, what can be done to help this family?
I am a journalist in a small town, I investigate things of my own choosing and am not always commissioned for stories. That is sort of the job of an investigative reporter.
Also, There is no point in investigating a single lay person. But this is a catholic pastor and him having an inappropriate affair IS worth investigating. So, to compare a priest who is supposed to be celibate and who is leading his flock to a lay person is ridiculous.
Have we lost all of our standards for our priests. From what I have read tonight, this investigative journalist was only investigating and asking questions that made people uncomfortable, sounds like he was doing a good job. It also appears that he did not go public with any of his investigation, but rather the pastor did…….How dare the Bishop take out his embarrassment on this guy, who was just doing the work of the church.
This is the real challenge of the “new” church. Wrong is right, and right is wrong.
God help us.
This priest is really treating all of his parisioners with disrespect let alone his priestly vocation. If there is even a suspicion by people that he is doing something wrong then he needs to make sure his actions are above reproach. He states that he is doing nothing wrong and will continue in his current behavior. Fine and dandy. Wouldn’t it make more sense that he distance himself from this relationship or, at the very least, make sure that someone else is always around when these two are together????? Why leave yourself open to speculation? This is silly at best and scandalous at the worst.
You’re right, Naomi, but when you investigate your own parish (the only one in town), you should expect some push-back and that there will be consequences for your actions.
I’m not saying he did the wrong thing… But in my opinion it may have been a foolish, though courageous thing.
This reporter picked up his cross and is walking with it. He will be in my prayers.
Interesting that the complainants resort first to the civil courts, and use the civil courts to gain what is (in the circumstances) almost tantamount to a canonical penalty.
Here are some thoughts from St. Paul on Christians suing Christians (1 Corinthians 6:1-8):
When one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life! If then you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who are least esteemed by the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no man among you wise enough to decide between members of the brotherhood, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren.
All thoughts of appropriateness of investigation, etc. aside . . .
I am completely shocked that a priest can, in effect, deny the sacramental life to a family under any circumstances whatever.
It’s not the priest. He’s dead. It’s Bishop Boland.
Boland’s behavior is just another example of how isolated, insular, arrogant and pervasively corrupt the hierarchy is. Apparently, Catholics will not believe this, no matter how many scandals they witness. Unfortunately, the corruption will not abate because Catholics views such incidents as Kumpel’s persecution (and that’s the only legitimate word to describe what he’s going through) as a one-off incident, not the latest example of a centuries-old trend.
Catholics must unite to fight their own hierarchy. Kumpel needs financial and spiritual support. If any canon lawyers are reading this, I would hope you contact Kumpel.
Please contact Robert Kumpel’s Bishop here:
http://www.diosav.org/contact
Also, one can find the contact information for the attorney representing the Bishop here:
http://stjohnsvaldosta.blogspot.com/2009/04/not-your-parish-not-our-parish-its-his.html
Let them know how you feel.