Father Bob forced out by Catholic Church

[Matilda]

Outspoken South Melbourne priest Father Bob Maguire has lost his fight to stay on as a parish priest.

The Catholic Church has confirmed Father Bob's tenure at Saint Peter and Paul's parish will end next year.

(snip)

"The church is full. Every time there is a baptism there is 200 people come to join in. I can never work out why, but there they are and people know of us.

"I mean I know South Melbourne is only small bickies to the world, but as far as we are concerned South Melbourne is the world to us."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-04/new-document6/3626554


We have two priests who are in their eighties, still going strong. It has nothing to do with his age.

Father Bob's sin? He performed a civil marriage ceremony for two gay people, privately, outside of the church, not as a priest but as a civil celebrant.

Slap him on the wrist, certainly, but the man is bringing the people in and doing a good job. The Church has some strange priorities.

[CBHagman]

1. "The Church has some strange priorities."

Amen to that. I could tell you stories...

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about Father Bob. On edit: You'd think we had a surplus of priests!