C
catharina
Guest
from the Chicago Sun Times
re the “religion” of Ray Martin:
"Ouster after Catholic-Episcopal mass
BALTIMORE | Pastor resigns after ‘bringing scandal to the church’
November 16, 2007
BALTIMORE – Under pressure from Baltimore’s new Roman Catholic archbishop, a priest resigned as pastor to three parishes and signed a statement apologizing for ‘‘bringing scandal to the church’’ after offenses that included officiating at a funeral Mass with an Episcopal priest, a violation of canon law.
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien ordered the resignation of the Rev. Ray Martin, who has led the Catholic Community of South Baltimore for five years, triggering a debate about enforcing Catholic doctrine and the limits of ecumenical relations.
Martin said he led the Oct. 15 funeral Mass for local activist Ann Shirley Doda at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church with several clergy, including the Rev. Annette Chappell, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Redemption.
Doda’s son, Victor, invited Chappell to participate in the service.
‘‘I am sickened that they would treat our pastor this way,’’ he said. ‘‘It doesn’t sound possible that the church would take such a petty thing and ruin a man’s career.’’
‘Violated church teaching’
When the archdiocesan statement announcing why Martin was asked to resign was read Sunday at our Lady of Good Counsel “about 90 percent of the congregation of that packed church walked out” on mass, reported the Catholic Review, the official newspaper of the archdiocese.
Sean Caine, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said this was one example of repeated administrative and liturgical offenses Martin had committed in more than a year, including not complying with hiring and screening policies.
‘‘Father Martin’s received advice and counsel on numerous occasions from the archdiocese, and he has repeatedly violated church teaching,’’ Caine said.
Chappell read the Gospel at the service, Martin said. Only ordained Catholic priests and deacons may read the Gospel at mass.
‘‘I think that canon laws exist to protect the church from extremism,’’ Martin said. ‘‘I don’t find that this is such an extreme situation.’’
Martin said he has been barred from celebrating mass publicly and will go on an extended retreat at a monastery in Latrobe, Pa."
re the “religion” of Ray Martin:
"Ouster after Catholic-Episcopal mass
BALTIMORE | Pastor resigns after ‘bringing scandal to the church’
November 16, 2007
BALTIMORE – Under pressure from Baltimore’s new Roman Catholic archbishop, a priest resigned as pastor to three parishes and signed a statement apologizing for ‘‘bringing scandal to the church’’ after offenses that included officiating at a funeral Mass with an Episcopal priest, a violation of canon law.
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien ordered the resignation of the Rev. Ray Martin, who has led the Catholic Community of South Baltimore for five years, triggering a debate about enforcing Catholic doctrine and the limits of ecumenical relations.
Martin said he led the Oct. 15 funeral Mass for local activist Ann Shirley Doda at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church with several clergy, including the Rev. Annette Chappell, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Redemption.
Doda’s son, Victor, invited Chappell to participate in the service.
‘‘I am sickened that they would treat our pastor this way,’’ he said. ‘‘It doesn’t sound possible that the church would take such a petty thing and ruin a man’s career.’’
‘Violated church teaching’
When the archdiocesan statement announcing why Martin was asked to resign was read Sunday at our Lady of Good Counsel “about 90 percent of the congregation of that packed church walked out” on mass, reported the Catholic Review, the official newspaper of the archdiocese.
Sean Caine, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said this was one example of repeated administrative and liturgical offenses Martin had committed in more than a year, including not complying with hiring and screening policies.
‘‘Father Martin’s received advice and counsel on numerous occasions from the archdiocese, and he has repeatedly violated church teaching,’’ Caine said.
Chappell read the Gospel at the service, Martin said. Only ordained Catholic priests and deacons may read the Gospel at mass.
‘‘I think that canon laws exist to protect the church from extremism,’’ Martin said. ‘‘I don’t find that this is such an extreme situation.’’
Martin said he has been barred from celebrating mass publicly and will go on an extended retreat at a monastery in Latrobe, Pa."
