Newark Star Ledger - June 10, 2009
Letter To The Editor
A parishoner's wish
Rumors about a so-called "unnamed" replacement priest receiving
death threats and withdrawing from consideration to be the pastor of
St. Lucy's Church in Newark are duplicitous and bogus ("A pastor's
retirement has set the earl of Essex against His Excellency," June 4). This smokescreen has been created by the archdiocese so the original
promises made to the parishioners of St. Lucy's and Monsignor Joseph
Granato could easily be broken.
The agreement was to allow Granato to remain at the rectory in
retirement and the replacement would oversee St. Lucy's from his
current parish until a permanent pastor was chosen. Archdiocese
spokesman Jim Goodness is right to say these agreements were not etched
in stone, but we parishioners accepted these terms via a verbal
handshake. We believed Archbishop John Myers' words were his bond.
Additionally, when the replacement pastor visited the parish and
remarked on the changes he was going to make, the only threats made
were that if he were made pastor, there would be a dramatic decline in
attendance, time, talent and treasure.
Our
beloved monsignor has always been a very simple, humble, urban priest.
He has dedicated his whole life to St. Lucy's. He should be allowed to
retire to the quarters where he has resided for 54 years. It is all we
the parishioners of St. Lucy's Church ask for.
Helen E. T. Smith, Newark
http://blog.nj.com/ledgerletters/2009/06/leave_monsignor_joseph_granato.html
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