Bishop pulls priest's (Keith Perry-Gore) licence in rare trial.The bishop of Quebec The title Bishop of Quebec refers to more than one individual:
v. sev·ered, sev·er·ing, sev·ers v.tr. 1. To set or keep apart; divide or separate. 2. To cut off (a part) from a whole. 3. the priest's relationship with the diocese, lifting his licence and publicizing pub·li·cize tr.v. pub·li·cized, pub·li·ciz·ing, pub·li·ciz·es To give publicity to. Noun 1. publicizing - the business of drawing public attention to goods and services advertising the sentencing to all Anglican clergy in Canada. In his decision, released Jan. 15, Bishop Bruce Stavert Bruce Stavert is the current Anglican Archbishop of Quebec and Metropolitan of Canada. He is an alumnus of Trinity College in the University of Toronto. pronounced the so-called sentence of deprivation against Canon Keith Perry-Gore of North Hatley, Que., following a rare ecclesiastical trial for disrespect to the bishop. In an interview, Bishop Stavert said he felt "just terrible" about having to impose such a harsh sentence. "This was not something I was happy to do," he said. Canon Perry-Gore issued a press release after receiving the bishop's decision. In it, he said he did not accept the guilty finding "because the diocesan canon on discipline has not been followed." The release continued: "this is not an objective process concerned with justice. This is abuse of episcopal power and a continuing abuse of diocesan priests." The bishop's other options for sentencing were public or private admonition Any formal verbal statement made during a trial by a judge to advise and caution the jury on their duty as jurors, on the admissibility or nonadmissibility of evidence, or on the purpose for which any evidence admitted may be considered by them. , or suspension from the exercise of ministry or office. Under the diocesan canons, a bishop may not defrock de·frock tr.v. de·frocked, de·frock·ing, de·frocks 1. To strip of priestly privileges and functions. 2. To deprive of the right to practice a profession. 3. To deprive of an honorary position. a priest. "I'm still a priest," Canon Perry-Gore said in an interview, adding that in spite of the ruling, he would still preside pre·side intr.v. pre·sid·ed, pre·sid·ing, pre·sides 1. To hold the position of authority; act as chairperson or president. 2. To possess or exercise authority or control. 3. over a church service "if someone asks me." His troubles with the bishop began last September when he released to the media a six-page letter in which he criticized the bishop's administration and his handling of statute law. Canon Perry-Gore said his letter was in response to one from the bishop, refusing to let him preside over a service at St. Luke's St. Luke's or St Luke's can refer to:
revoke v. to annul or cancel an act, particularly a statement, document, or promise, as if it no longer existed. his licence if he went ahead. "It also said that retired clergy aren't allowed to take services without permission of the incumbent, and there was no incumbent," Canon Perry-Gore said. "The wardens asked me." In his letter of response, Canon Perry-Gore condemned the bishop's actions and alluded to Adolf Hitler's reign, though the priest denies that he actually compared the bishop to Hitler. The ecclesiastical trial, which Canon Perry-Gore did not attend, was held in Quebec City on Nov. 26 with four so-called church triers hearing the case. The priest also did not respond to a summons to appear before the bishop, although he did write back and say he was not guilty. The triers recommended the sentence of deprivation to the bishop, who made the final decision. Bishop Stavert said Canon Perry-Gore's letter, which was distributed widely, offended people in the diocese. "People are scandalized that a bishop could be treated that way. It's not the Anglican way and there would be no church if that kind of thing went on." Canon Perry-Gore said his dispute with the bishop of Quebec is corporate, not personal, and that he is fighting for a principle. His complaint with the bishop, he said, is over the bishop's handling of the statutes for the diocese. "My point is that if you don't have law you have anarchy." |
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