Newark Archbishop John J. Myers has pulled out of a deal to allow
retiring pastor, Msgr Joseph Granato, to stay in his former parish
after the replacement pastor turned down the post upon receiving a leaflet
warning him of "consequences".
"This is the sort of thing that might have happened in the Middle Ages," says Jim Goodness, the spokesman for Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, according to NJ.com.
But Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who likes to be known as "Joe D", sees the archbishop's promise as made, not just to Granato, but to the parishioners of St Lucy's who include some of the most prominent and powerful Italian-American families, not just in Newark, but throughout Essex County and the state, NJ.com says.
"I don't care who becomes the next pastor of St Lucy's," says DiVincenzo. "That is completely up to the archbishop. But I care about the monsignor and the families and the parish."
The county executive says the archbishop promised Granato, 80, that the pastor - one of only three in the century-old history of a parish that still offers some Masses in Latin - could stay at St Lucy's after he retires this month. The promise ended planned protests by parishioners.
"Then the archbishop changed his mind," says DiVincenzo. "That's not right."
Goodness says a priest was chosen to replace Granato and was willing to allow the old pastor to stay. But the priest visited the parish and was threatened by parishioners, Goodness says. Threats the priest took to be death threats.
"He was scared," says Goodness, who says he is protecting the priest by not identifying him. "He read a leaflet that warned there would be 'consequences' if he took over the parish and tried to make any changes."
Goodness says the priest withdrew from consideration as Granato's replacement and Myers changed his mind.
"There were conversations in which the archbishop did say he was willing to let Granato stay in the rectory," says Goodness.
But, once the threat was made, Goodness says, the deal was off.
DiVincenzo says he is skeptical about the death threat but, insists, even if one were made, that shouldn't have been a deal-breaker.
FULL STORY @
Popular Newark priest's retirement housing sparks protests, death threats, political intervention (NJ.com)
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