Pope Francis Defrocks Kerala Priest For Serious Sexual Misconduct

Father Robin Vadakkumchery of Kerala, India

Photo courtesy: newindianexpress.com/

Pope Francis recently defrocked Father Robin Vadakkumchery who was convicted earlier by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) court of Thalassery, Kerala, India, for raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in 2016, reports the New Indian Express. The court had jailed him for 20 years and imposed a fine of 300,000 Indian rupees (US$4,300) to be paid as compensation to the victim. 

Father Vadakkumchery was a manager and teacher at the Catholic school where the girl was studying. On February 7, 2017, she gave birth to a child that has been sent to a Catholic orphanage.

On February 27, 2017, Mananthavady Catholic diocese had suspended Father Vadakkunchery from priestly duties and formed a committee for further investigation.

For further details, please read the following:

• Pope Francis defrocks rape convict Kerala priest Robin Vadakkumchery (March 1, 2020)
• Vatican dismisses Indian priest jailed for rape (March 2, 2020)
• Jailed for 20 years, rape-convict Kerala vicar defrocked by Pope Francis (March 2, 2020)
• Pope defrocks priest convicted in rape case (March 2, 2020)

Father Dominic Vlanmanal Claims Parents' Mortal Sins Cause Their Children's Autism!

Father Dominic Valamanal of Kerala, India

Photo courtesy: Facebook Home of Father Dominic Valamanal

Father Dominic Valamanal, belonging to the Eastern Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, “is a Catholic priest under the diocese of Kanjirapally and serving as the Director of Marian Retreat Centre Anakkara Kerala.” He leads healing and deliverance (charismatic) retreats in different parishes in India and some Syro-Malabar Catholics in diaspora abroad.

“Alcohol, cigarette, beedi [Indian rolled-leaf cigarettes], narcotics, Pan Parag [chewing tobacco], adultery, masturbation, homosexuality, porn; if you are addicted to these, I say to you in the name of God…when you get married and have children, there is a high possibility of bearing these types of children,” he preached in Malayalam language in Kerala and available on Youtube (the CBC television of Canada independently verified the English translation of this).

Father Valamanal continues, “The young men and women are not filled with the Holy Spirit anymore. Afterward, they lead an animal-life. They copulate like animals. They bear children like animals. Therefore, those children will be like animals.”

Father Valmanal also said he “cured” a boy with autism during a visit to Ireland. He had said in the boy’s home: “I bind the spirit of autism and hyperactivity that has infested this house. I banish it. Banished to the foot of Jesus’ cross.”

His ‘fire and brimstone’ preaching in these retreats attracts some but repels others. Some diaspora Catholics requested their local bishops to cancel these retreats. As a result, retreats due to be held in Canada, Australia, and Ireland have already been cancelled.

According to the www.webmd.com, autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviors. Because of the range of symptoms, this condition is now called autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

How is autism caused? “Some genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously. Environmental factors. Researchers are currently exploring whether factors such as viral infections, medications or complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants play a role in triggering autism spectrum disorder.”

In this scientifically enlightened modern-day, Father Valmanal blames parents’ mortal sins for their children’s autism, as some Old Testament writers mentioned sins of the parents for their children’s physical and mental problems. Let’s see what Jesus said on the same subject: “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3)

If this priest’s words were correct, let’s ask him what sins cause high blood pressure and stroke, heart attack, cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, ebola virus attack, influenza, etc.

We also need to ask this self-righteous priest what sins of parents caused so many Catholic priests and bishops engage in different types of sex abuses all over the world. He mentions of demons possessing autistic children, but what about demons possessing clergy sex abusers? He should go among these sinful priests and heal them of masturbatory demons, pedophile demons, homosexual demons, heterosexual demons, and other types of demons.

His pure judgmental, condemning, and punishing attitude may further his cause and prestige as a ‘forthright speaker,’ but he is using these autistic children and their parents in such a way that it tantamounts to blackmailing – making the parents feel ashamed, demeaned, pathetic, and worthless. He claims to have cured a child or two miraculously. If God works through him, why cure only a few, why not all autistic children of the rest of the world? Why not go among Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and other religionists and non-believers and cure them all using such a language?

Priests need to be careful about defamation when speaking or delivering their sermons. “Generally, defamation is a false and unprivileged statement of fact that is harmful to someone’s reputation, and published ‘with fault,’ meaning as a result of negligence or malice. Libel is written defamation, and slander is spoken defamation." If an affected or disgruntled person files a lawsuit, a priest may fall into a real problem.

 A priest or bishop, who speaks in such an accusing and condemning language, needs to get reorientation on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (especially, on the place and role of the laity in the Church, and that priests and bishops are there to serve the laity religiously and spiritually and they are not to rule over them – they are to practise servant leadership,); teachings of Pope Francis (love, compassion, and mercy – including the evil effects of clericalism).

Bishops who allow such priests to go around and speak in accusing terms and charge high fees (about $400 per participant of retreats abroad) become complicit in their ‘sins.’ Participation in other’s sins is an important teaching of the Catholic Church, although many religious superiors, priests and bishops forget about it in real life.

For more on Father Dominic Valamanal, please read the following: 

• Ireland to cancel invite to Kerala Catholic priest who compared autistic kids to animals (June 9, 2019)
• Church in Ireland cancels invite to priest comparing kids with autism to animals (June 11, 2019)
• Calgary diocese cancels retreat with priest who linked homosexuality with autism (June 20, 2019)
• Catholic priest who linked autism to homosexuality cancels Australian appearance (July 18, 2019)
• Let not miracle cure trap you! By Ben Knight (July 24, 2019)
• Fr. Dominic Valanmanal (Facebook)

(Updated on August 9, 2029)

Four-Day Vatican Summit On The Protection Of Minors Opens In The Vatican

Pope Francis speaks to the participants at the Vatican summit
on the 'protection of minors' at the Synod Hall on Feb. 21

Photo courtesy: Vatican Media, via CNA

Pope Francis, on February 21, opened the Vatican summit on the 'protection of minors' from Catholic clergy sex abuse, with more than 200 world bishops, cardinals, Vatican officials, priests, experts, and clergy sex abuse victims in attendance. Abuse victims came from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. 

In his opening remarks, the pope gave a list of "21 talking points" for the participants that include "suggestions to have periodic reviews of protocols on safeguarding, handbooks of steps authorities should take in abuse cases, provisions for facilitating the participation of lay experts in investigations, and the direction to inform civil authorities and higher Church authorities in compliance with civil and canonical norms," reports the Catholic News Agency (CNA).

The summit will also deal with raising the minimum age of marriage for women from 14 to 16 years and make it universal in the Church, psychological evaluations of the seminarians for the priesthood, and proper penalties for priests or Religious who commit the abuse.

Some observers feel that the Vatican now is dealing with only one type of problem (clergy sex abuse of minors -- also known as pedophilia), but, in reality,  there are priests all over the world with other types of sex abuse problems, for example, bi-sexual priests (going after both men and women), heterosexual priests (going after women and nuns -- some priests even having illegal abortions done on their lovers, and others having secret children of their own), homosexual priests (going after men), and so on. These priests need to be dealt with, too, to have greater accountability and "sexual chastity" in the Church. Who, then, will bell the cat in the future? 

For more on the ongoing Vatican summit, you may read the following:

• Pope Proposes 21 'reflection points' for discussion at abuse summit (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Meeting on "The Protection of Minors in the Church" -- Reflection Points (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope warns Catholic leaders the faithful expect concrete action to end sexual abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope promises change at first Vatican summit on sex abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope Opens Meeting on Clerical Sex Abuse Under Great Pressure From Victims for Change (Feb. 21, 2019)
• First Vatican summit on child sex abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Searing testimony heard at Vatican sex abuse summit (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope Francis presents action plan for tackling clerical sex abuse but victims dismiss it as inadequate (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit In Rome Hears From Survivors (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope Francis vows action on clergy sex abuse but US prosecutors say Church can't be trusted to police itself (Feb. 22, 2019)
• Distrust and anger shadow Vatican summit on sex abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)

The Sexuality of the Catholic Priests and Religious

The sexuality 

of the 

Catholic Priests 
and 
Religious

One that has life is an animal. As man has life, man is also an animal. Like other animals, man is also a sexual animal. According to the Bible, man, like other animals, participate in the creation of God and proliferate themselves. Life is continuing in this way.

One may ask what ‘the sexuality in the Catholic priestly and religious life’ is. How is it possible to have sex when Catholic priests and Religious are supposed to spend their life asexually – a life chosen completely on one’s own volition and to be lived compulsorily?

Yes, sexuality is a reality, although none will speak about it publicly. Since the teachings of the Catholic Church are given from the standpoint of sin, we always hear of the sexuality and sins of the laypersons – not of the priests and Religious.

Here we will limit our writing to the sexuality of the Catholic priests and Religious.

According to the Church teaching, members of the Catholic Church consist of the clergy (priests, bishops, cardinals, and the pope), the Religious (professed priests, Brothers, and Sisters – also known as ‘nuns’), and the laypersons (ordinary men and women). 

According to the 2017 Pontifical Yearbook, there were 1.29 billion Catholics in the world. Among them, only 5,353 were bishops (all the bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the pope included), 414,969 priests (of them, 281,831 were diocesan or ‘secular’ priests and 133,138 Religious priests), 52,625 Brothers, and 656,445 Sisters.

From ancient times, certain pagan religions had their own types of priests and priestesses – many of whom were married, but some unmarried.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, the monotheistic Hebrews (Jews) had male priests – all of whom were married. Their sons inherited this priesthood, too.

In the New Testament, long before the coming of Jesus Christ, Druid pagan priests in western Europe and Aztec temple priests of South America used to be celibate (unmarried) and it was expected that they absent themselves from engaging in sexual activities with others.

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ was God as well as a full human being. As a man, he, of course, was subject to all temptations and weaknesses. Yet, he lived his celibate life with extreme self-sacrifice and asexuality. Following his example, some of his disciples also lived a similar life. In short, we can say that Jesus’ sexuality was fully self-sacrificing sexuality. His life, mind, and spirit were fully dedicated to the service and salvation of mankind.

Among the married disciples, St. Peter was an important figure (Matt 8:14), who is recognized as the first pope in the Catholic Church. Apostle St. Paul (1 Cor 9: 5) mentions of some married disciples of Christ.

Alike some disciples of Christ, apostle Paul, too, was unmarried. He, in 1 Cor 7: 32-35, mentions of the benefits of the celibacy.

There are two types of priests in the Catholic Church – diocesan or ‘secular’ priests and Religious priests. Diocesan priests work directly under a bishop in his diocese. Although they don’t take any official vow, they remain celibate and abstain from sexual activities. They do not live a community life. If necessary, they can live alone separately from other priests and they can personally acquire and own money and property. The Religious priests, on the other hand, officially take vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty and live in a community, to which all money and property belong. They work in the dioceses with special permission of the bishops.

In the first thousand years of the Catholic Church, priests could marry. In 308 A.D., the Council of Elvira in Spain, after observing widespread extra-marital affairs and unbridled sexual activities of priests, laid greater emphasis on the priestly holiness and sexual chastity, and, for the first time, ruled for the celibacy of their local priests. In 325 A.D., Emperor Constantine called for the Council of Nicea and rejected the celibacy imposed by the Council of Elvira.

 Yet, in the early Middle Ages (5^th and 6^th centuries A.D.), the trend for celibacy of priests started to gain support in the Western Catholic Church. In face of sexual immorality of married priests, Pope Benedict VIII ruled that children of married priests could not inherit any Church property. Several decades later, Pope Gregory VI banned the marriage of priests. In 1139, the Second Lateran Council officially banned the marriage of priests. In 1563, the Council of Trent supported the celibacy of priests. This tradition of priestly celibacy is continuing till today.

What does it mean to be a celibate priest? Those who want to be a priest, they willingly and with full understanding, become celibate priests by following the example of Jesus Christ. They know that they cannot have a wife or a mistress; they cannot engage in sexual activities with any other male, female, or underage boy or girl; above all, they also cannot masturbate, even by themselves, as all of these are grievous sins – against God and the teachings of the Church. In short, they are supposed to be fully dedicated to God’s work and live a selfless asexual life. It then becomes their responsibility for maintaining their sexual chastity. This is called the sexuality of priests.

On the other side, there is the sexuality of the Religious life. The Religious include professed priests, Brothers, and Sisters. Living communally, they follow their Society’s rules and profess the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty. They are to remain celibate, be sexually chaste, refrain from owning any money or property personally, and be obedient to their Superior. The sexuality they observe, by following Jesus, is the sexuality of the Religious.

Some people’s unbridled sexuality and sexual activities are pervasive in the world. Irrespective of race, caste, and creed, this situation was present in the past, is on at the present, and will be so in the future. It takes a worse turn and becomes a scandal to others when dedicated religious leaders and priests become part of this degradation. Their only responsibility and duty are to remain firm in their path of God and, through their regular teaching and example, keep others on the right path.

For the last few decades, unrestrained sexuality of some priests, Brothers, and Sisters has been giving scandals in the universal Catholic Church. Not only that, a good number of underage boys and girls, as well as adult males and females, became sexual prey to their machinations. In the past, religious leaders tried to cover up these sins and crimes, but with the spread of modern media and technology today, these come to the open faster and the cover-up became almost impossible.

Under the circumstances, it became imperative that for proper formation, seminarians and candidates for Brotherhood and Sisterhood be imparted formal and appropriate training on sexuality, sexual sins, and sexual crimes.

Pope Francis, by taking some measures, is trying hard to take the Catholic Church forward. He has been placing special importance on the teachings of the Gospel and the ideal of Christ. Every Catholic needs to cooperate with this attempt of his. We are hopeful that the sexuality of the priests and Religious return to its ideal and, at the same time, the glory of God and the Church increase manifold. 

(This is the English version of the Bengali-language write-up of Jerome D'Costa, published in the Pratibeshi weekly of Dhaka, Bangladesh. You may read it here) 

The Quotation of the Week (October 7 - 13, 2018)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'a bishop and a priest
who are for the people,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design © Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis Asks Priests and Bishops To Be 'Smelly Shepherds', Not 'Wolves'

Pope Francis ordains 16 seminarians to the priesthood
in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec. 1, 2017

Photo courtesy: CNS

Pope Francis, immediately after being elected a pope on March 13, 2013, has been repeating his call for priests and bishops to be shepherds like Christ rather than 'wolves' that scatter or destroy sheep.

Pope Francis addressing the world's priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2018, said: “The priest who seldom goes out of himself … misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart. … This is precisely the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, lose heart and become, in a sense, collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep.’ This is what I am asking you — be shepherds with the smell of sheep.”

 The Pope in his May 15, 2018 homily in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence at the Vatican, said: “A bishop is not a bishop for himself. He is for the people, and a priest is not a priest for himself. He is for the people: to serve, to nurture them, to shepherd them, who are his flock – in order to defend them from the wolves.”

According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), Pope Francis repeated his prayers for bishops and priests who face temptation. “We are men and we are sinners.  We are tempted,” he said.

He cited St. Augustine’s commentaries on the prophet Ezekiel. Augustine warned against the temptations of wealth and vanity, when the bishop and priest “take from the people,” make deals and become “attached to money.”

He also added that "when a priest, a bishop goes after money, the people do not love him -- and that's a sign....he ends badly."

A bishop or priest on "the road to vanity" is one who "enters into the spirit of careerism -- and this hurts the Church very much," the Pope said. Such a man "ends up being ridiculous: he boasts, he is pleased to be seen, all powerful -- and the people do not like that!"

For more, please click on the following: 

• Pope Francis: Priests should be 'shepherds living with the smell of the sheep' (March 28, 2013)
• Pope Francis an inspiration to act like the Good Shepherd (April 25, 2013)
• Clergy must be shepherds, not wolves, says Pope (May 15, 2013)
• Meeting With Seminarians and Novices: Address of Holy Father Francis (Vatican: July 6, 2013)
• Pope Francis plays the Good Shepherd's role to perfection (Jan. 8, 2014)
• Shepherds Living With the Smell of the Sheep (Feb. 3, 2014)
• Smell of the Shepherds (Feb. 5, 2014)
• Pope Francis to Seminarians: "If You Are Not Willing To Act Like Shepherds, Change Path" (April 14, 2014)
• Francis' message to seminarians: If the priesthood's not for you, seek another path (April 14, 2014) [Pope stressed that the seminary is not a refuge for those with psychological problems]
• Pope to seminarians: you are preparing to be 'good shepherds' not bureaucrats (April 14, 2014)
• Pope Francis has given sheep and shepherd a renewed emphasis (March 13, 2015)
• Francis: Priests are shepherds, not managers (April 26, 2015)
• Pope Francis provides model for bishops (June 24, 2015)
• Rome retreat: Pope offers 'crash course' on mercy in priestly ministry (Feb. 6, 2016)
• How to be a good shepherd -- Pope Francis' guide for priests (June 3, 2016)
• Good priests don't own gloves, they get their hands dirty, says Pope Francis (June 3, 2016)
• Vatican updates guidelines for educating priests (July 12, 2016)
• A good shepherd shuns power and money and is never embittered (Oct. 18, 2016)
• Pope Francis: A good shepherd is never embittered even if deserted by everyone (Oct. 18, 2016)
• The Gift of the Priestly Vocation [Updated guidelines -- Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis -- for educating priests] (Vatican: Congregation for the Clergy -- December 8, 2016) 
• Pope Francis, Priesthood And Mission. Ten Inspirational Insights [by Father James H. Kroeger, M.M.] (April 21, 2016)
• Pope Francis' Dynamic Vision of Priesthood (2016)
• Pope: We Must Follow the Good Shepherd, Not False Wisdom (May 8, 2017)
• Pope Francis: A shepherd must freely follow the Spirit (May 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis: 'Shepherds are not the centre of the Church' (May 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis: A good shepherd know when to step down (May 31, 2017)
• Pope wants priests to be shepherds who encounter their flocks (June 16, 2017)
• On the path of the Good Shepherd (Pope Francis drew five verbs from the Gospel of Luke 13: 10-17) (Oct. 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis: a good shepherd is always close to his people (Oct. 31, 2017)
• Bishops called to be humble shepherds, not lonely masters, pope says (2017)
• Pope at Mass: 'Shepherds should show tenderness and closeness of Jesus' (Jan. 30, 2018)
• Pope advises priests: Be present and available for your people (Jan. 30, 2018)
• Shepherds Do Not Put Up Signs With Hours (Jan. 30, 2018)
• Priesthood isn't an assignment; it's a mission, Pope tells seminarians (Feb. 16, 2018)
• Pope Francis to new priests: Be like Jesus the Good Shepherd (April 22, 2018)
• "Bishops shall watch over the flock, and not be suitcase-in-hand office workers" (May 4, 2018)
• Bishops must protect their people from danger, pope says (May 4, 2018)
• Satan is attacking bishops: they must fight with prayer, pope says (Sept. 11, 2018)
• Pope to French priests: Be transformed by the Spirit (Oct. 1, 2018)
• Shepherding the Flock: Pope Francis' vision of Priesthood (2018)

Related Items:

• Clericalism And Its Corroding Effects in the Catholic Church (A collection of news and articles on 'clericalism') (Sept. 19, 2018)
• Vatican Scandals and Reforms of Pope Francis (Dec. 31, 2016)

(Updated on Oct. 4, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (February 18 - 24, 2018)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'a priest carrying Christ's cross,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design by Adrian D'Costa (Feb. 18, 2018)

Senior Vatican Priest Declares He Is a Homosexual With a Partner

Father  with his gay partner Edouard at the press conference in Rome

Photo courtesy: AFP

Forty-three-year-old Polish Catholic priest, Father Krzysztof Charamsa, in a press conference in Rome today, publicly admitted that he has been a gay (homosexual) and he has a regular partner, named Edouard. In spite of official Catholic Church teaching against homosexual acts, many Catholic priests practise homosexuality in secret, and this Polish priest, holding high Vatican posts, is a rare one coming out publicly. 

According to the Vatican Radio, Father Charamsa -- a theologian -- has been living in Rome for the past 17 years and has worked at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) since 2003. He was an assistant secretary of the Theological Commission and was teaching theology at two Pontifical universities in Rome -- Pontifica Universita Gregoriana (Pontifical Gregorian University) and Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum (Pontifical Academy of the Queen of Apostles). 

Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See press office in the Vatican, announced that Father Charamsa would no longer be holding the positions with immediate effect.

For more details on this subject, please read the following: 

• Holy See rocked as senior Vatican priest comes out as gay (The Irish Times) 
• Vatican fires gay priest on eve of bishops' meeting (The Irish Times)
• Vatican responds to CDF official's coming out (Catholic News Agency -- CNA)
• Vatican fires priest after he comes out as gay (cbc.ca)
• Gay priest to be stripped of duties at Vatican (CNN) 
• On the eve of synod, a Vatican official comes out as gay (johnthavis.com)
• Vatican Theologian Confesses: "I'm Happy To Be Gay and I Have a Partner," (Corriere della serra, Italy) 
• Gay CDF Priest 'Comes Out,' Declares Church Must Change (churchmilitant.com)
• Senior Vatican priest comes out as gay and is immediately sacked (The Mirror, UK) 
• Father Lombardi reacts to revelations by gay prelate (Vatican Radio)

Pope Francis to New Priests of His Diocese in Rome: Don't be a peacock; give no boring sermons; never refuse baptism

Pope Francis

Artwork: Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Pope Francis, on April 26, presiding over the ordination of 19 Rome Diocese seminarians to the priesthood, warned them against being vain and living for their own pleasure. He also told them not to be a peacock. He also told them not to give boring sermons and not to refuse to give baptism to one who asks for it.

For details, please visit the following:

• Pope to new priests: Don't be a peacock
• No more boring sermons, says Pope to priests
• Francis: Priests should never refuse baptism to one who asks for it
• "You priests must feel free to express themselves"

'Monsignor Meth' Pleads Guilty to US Federal Drug Charge

Monsignor Kevin Wallin speaking at the Catholic Centre of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 2006

Photo courtesy: AP

Monsignor Kevin Wallin (61), a Catholic priest, of Waterbury in Connecticut, USA, pleaded guilty April 2 in Hartford to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute four pounds of methamphetamine (meth) drug. He had made more than $300,000 in sales from his Connecticut apartment where he was living a retired life. He also owned and ran an adult video and sex toy shop in North Haven to launder his ill-earned money. He is to be sentenced in late June. He is likely to receive 10 or more years of prison term, reports the New York Daily News. Father Wallin himself had problem with drug addiction. A local newspaper gave him the epithet 'Monsignor Meth,' as he traded in drugs.

Prosecutors said the priest had his accomplices in California mail this drug to him, who then sold it to others from his apartment. Three of his accomplices have already been arrested.

Father Wallin was arrested in January this year. After receiving information that he sells drugs, an undercover officer purchased meth from him six times between September 20 of last year to January 2 this year and paid more than $3,400 in total for 23 grams of this drug. US federal agents also used wiretaps, surveillance and informants to monitor the operation.

As a priest, Father Wallin served St. Augustine parish in Bridgeport for nine years until he resigned in June of 2011 mentioning his health and personal reasons. Previously he had served in another parish in Danbury. He was ordained a priest in 1984. According to The Connecticut Post, this priest “served as the secretary to two Bridgeport bishops – Walter W. Curtis and Edward Egan, now a Cardinal.”

Father Wallin was living his retired life in the apartment. In May of 2012, when the Diocesan officials came to know of some of his other problems including “sexually inappropriate behavior with other men in the church rectory,” he was suspended from public ministry, but still he was a priest. Brian D. Wallace, the diocesan spokesman, said the diocese was not aware of Wallin’s involvement with drugs business when he was suspended by the Diocese. Now  Father Wallin faces removal from priesthood by the Vatican.

After the guilty plea, the Diocese of Bridgeport, in a statement said: “Msgr. Wallin’s guilty plea represents an important step in his coming to terms with his own actions and their impact on others. It is a difficult moment for all of us but we hope it is also the first step in rebuilding his life. We pray that he moves toward a healing and wholeness.”

Why do Catholics need to know of such sad stories?

Some Catholics are allergic to learning of scandalous and sad incidents of Catholic Church personnel and try to be defensive unnecessarily and unsuccessfully. They need to be realistic and be ready to cope with the situation.

Catholics need to know these to come out of their stupor that all that looks good, all that sweet talk and “pious” demeanor may also contain the opposite elements.

They need to learn lessons from other respected Church personnels’ missteps, mistakes, omissions and also commissions.

They need to be alert so that they don’t fall prey to such persons.

As Jesus Christ preached the Good News, he also did not forget to mention the bad news. In his parables, he speaks of disobedience of the younger son to his father and leaving home in arrogance and returning home as a penitent. Jesus also speaks of robbery in the Good Samaritan story. He speaks of seeds falling on good ground as well as on infertile and rocky ground bearing no fruits. Jesus always chided the Pharisees and Scribes for their hypocritical behavior. 

The cloak of silence and keeping public Church personnel's persistent bad behaviour secret, breeds more bad behaviour and a lot of damages to the ordinary faithful.