Priest Files Federal Discrimination Suit Against Norwich Bishop

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Tanzanian native accuses Cote of discrimination

By TOM BREEN
Published on 6/29/2005

The dispute between a Roman Catholic priest in Vernon and the bishop of Norwich has reached a new level, with the priest filing a lawsuit in federal court accusing the Norwich Diocese of employment discrimination and defamation.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on behalf of the Rev. Justinian B. Rweyemamu, formerly assigned to St. Bernard Church in Vernon, seeks unspecified damages from the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of Norwich.

Rweyemamu previously served for several years at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Gales Ferry.

The lawsuit filed by Rweyemamu’s lawyer, Norman A. Pattis, accuses the bishop of “employment discrimination, defamation, tortious interference in business relations, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

The bishop was served with the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon, according to diocesan spokeswoman Jacqueline Keller. Keller said the diocese would not comment on a matter that is in the courts.

The suit traces the dispute between the priest and bishop, which became public in January but had simmered since the spring of 2004. The lawsuit alleges that Cote passed Rweyemamu over for promotion to the temporary post of parish administrator in April 2004, and later for other open jobs in the diocese. . . .
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Federal courts do not have jurisdiction. Free exercise clause of the first amendment precludes workplace discrimination law passed by Congress from applying.

In my opinion.

But then what do I know?

I thought the 5th amendment meant the state could not use eminent domain to take property for the benefit of private interests.
 
There is procedures within the Church for these types of disagreements.

This is a direct attack by a priest on a bishop. I think he should be defrocked and possibly excommunicated.

I know this sounds harsh, but something has to be done.

PF
 
A lawsuit can do only one of two things; hurt someone or not.

This bishop was wise by not putting a man in charge of anything too big, given he’s prone to taking his spiritual authorities to civil court.

This is worldly solution. The world will benefit in some depraved way or other. God’s will be done, so I’m not worried about it.

Alan
 
Doesn’t Canon Law provide for automatic excommunication of a priest who sues his bishop? I’m pretty sure the old code did; not sure about the new one.
 
Hi all,

I don’t have my Bible in front of me, but doesn’t Scripture say that if you have a dispute with someone, go to the person in private, and if that doesn’t resolve it take a few people with you and approach the person. If that doesn’t resolve it go to the church. Now in this instance the local church is headed by the Bishop, but I still think there are ways to resolve this without going to the civil authorities. That should be the last resort. Peace to all. 🙂
 
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JimG:
Doesn’t Canon Law provide for automatic excommunication of a priest who sues his bishop? I’m pretty sure the old code did; not sure about the new one.
Click to expand...
Doesn’t canon law provide for automatic excommunication of a bishop who is racist? If it down, it should. Racism is one of the biggest sins against charity.
 
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gelsbern:
Doesn’t canon law provide for automatic excommunication of a bishop who is racist? If it down, it should. Racism is one of the biggest sins against charity.
Click to expand...
First of all canon law doesn’t really deal with what is sinful, it is about what is legal within the Church.

The link that was posted says that the article is over a week old and can’t be displayed. However, in the section the OP copied, it doesn’t mention that this is a race-based lawsuit. Not all employment discrimination is racially driven. And much employment discrimination exists only in the imagination of the accuser. :confused:

Discrimination is an allegation that must be proved and is rarely a cut and dried determination. Suing your Bishop is a factual event that either happened or it didn’t. Whether the Bishop acted improperly is somewhat of a lost point since the priest did not follow the steps in the Church process to make his complaint.
 
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gelsbern:
Doesn’t canon law provide for automatic excommunication of a bishop who is racist? If it down, it should. Racism is one of the biggest sins against charity.
Click to expand...
No, I think it is a bigger sin (not that I find rateing level of sin of any use) calling someone a racist with out any supporting evidence.

Also I think it is highly improper to comment on the interal workings of an organization that one does not belong to.
 
I foresee situations like this happening in the US. Consider how homosexuals are breaking legal barriers today. Then consider the number of homosexuals we suspect to be in the Catholic priesthood and then read the letters at this website and use your imagination. community-2.webtv.net/mfb2/DORnewsviews/page2.html
 
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JimG:
Doesn’t Canon Law provide for automatic excommunication of a priest who sues his bishop? I’m pretty sure the old code did; not sure about the new one.
Click to expand...
It is a Canonical offense (grave one) to publically crtisize your bishop or cause anomosity in that. Yes, this priest suspended by the Vatican I think.
 
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