Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Priest from Spa City jumps to death
The Saratogian ^ | December 28, 2006 | MARY FAIRCHILD

Posted on 12/28/2006 1:08:42 PM PST by NYer

RHINEBECK -- A 70-year-old Catholic priest who struggled with depression for years committed suicide by jumping off the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge about 1 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The Rev. John Kiwus, a Kingston native, was dead when he was recovered from the Hudson River by a crew from the Ulster Hose fire company, said Bill McDermott, chief of the East Kingston Fire Department. Rhinebeck is approximately 92 miles south of Saratoga Springs.

Kiwus, a Redemptorist priest, was stationed at the St. John Neumann Residence on Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, said the Rev. Patrick Woods, provincial of the Redemptorist order in Brooklyn. Woods said Kiwus suffered for many years from clinical depression and had undertaken many efforts to treat the condition. Kiwus left no suicide note, Woods said. A priest for 42 years, Kiwus trained as a missionary at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary (now the Retreat Center) in the Ulster County town of Esopus, Woods said. Kiwus spent much of his priesthood in Campo Grande, Brazil, and left missionary work several years ago to return to the United States.

State police at the Rhinebeck barracks said Kiwus left his car on the bridge -- which, at its peak rises, to about 250 feet above the river -- and that the vehicle was towed away after the priest jumped. Authorities said Kiwus jumped from the Dutchess County side of the bridge. His body was taken by Alamo Ambulance to Benedictine Hospital in Kingston. After the initial call, teams from Ulster Hose and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office prepared to dive into the chilly waters of the Hudson, according to Ed Molinaro, the Ulster Hose chief. But 'no one needed to dive,' Molinaro said. 'The body was floating on the water.'

Funeral arrangements for Kiwus are being made by the Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home in Kingston.


TOPICS: Catholic; Moral Issues; Prayer
KEYWORDS: albany; catholic; ny; priest; saratoga; suicide
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge
1 posted on 12/28/2006 1:08:46 PM PST by NYer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

FWIW - Saratoga Springs is part of the RC Diocese of Albany. This is the 2nd 'suicide' within 3 years.


2 posted on 12/28/2006 1:10:01 PM PST by NYer (Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven. St. Rose of Lima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

In late Middle Ages they usually added, "prompted by the devil", like Luca Landucci wrote about a physician who committed suicide around 1490 by jumping into a well.


3 posted on 12/28/2006 1:12:58 PM PST by GSlob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GSlob
In late Middle Ages they usually added, "prompted by the devil",

In this diocese, that still applies ;-)

4 posted on 12/28/2006 1:13:58 PM PST by NYer (Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven. St. Rose of Lima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Are there particular problems in the Diocese?


5 posted on 12/28/2006 1:22:58 PM PST by Bahbah (.Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NYer
This is the 2nd 'suicide' within 3 years.

Any particular reason to doubt suicide?

6 posted on 12/28/2006 1:30:17 PM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bahbah
Are there particular problems in the Diocese?

That's an understatement.

7 posted on 12/28/2006 1:31:48 PM PST by NYer (Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven. St. Rose of Lima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: NYer

I'm sorry to hear that.


8 posted on 12/28/2006 1:32:57 PM PST by Bahbah (.Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: theDentist

The first one - yes; this one - no. Just odd to have two suicides within such a short span of time, especially in a diocese with a priest shortage.


9 posted on 12/28/2006 1:33:27 PM PST by NYer (Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven. St. Rose of Lima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NYer

His choice. Case closed.


10 posted on 12/28/2006 1:41:34 PM PST by Dallas59 (HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

That's a heck of a drive from Saratoga.


11 posted on 12/28/2006 1:43:02 PM PST by kawaii (Orthodox Christianity -- Proclaiming the Truth Since 33 A.D.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

How are things in the Albany diocese? I know the Catholic school I attended was part of them but know very little of the goings on/Catholicty of it...


12 posted on 12/28/2006 1:44:01 PM PST by kawaii (Orthodox Christianity -- Proclaiming the Truth Since 33 A.D.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NYer

>>That's an understatement.<<

Can you give us a few links?
I know I heard about Albany at one time but can't remember.

There are a fair amount of Diocese with troubles.


13 posted on 12/28/2006 1:52:30 PM PST by netmilsmom (To attack one section of Christianity in this day and age, is to waste time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Bahbah

Let's put Pope Benedict over the top!
http://www.islamonline.net/polls/english/24-12-06/Survey.asp

Pass it on.


14 posted on 12/28/2006 2:47:40 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

I will.


15 posted on 12/28/2006 2:48:27 PM PST by Bahbah (.Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Bahbah

I'm just throwing it out on the Catholic threads. I think it will get more responses there than if I do another ping to the Daily Readings.

(Although I put it there also.)


16 posted on 12/28/2006 2:53:20 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
I put it on the Mark Levin live thread.

How is Papa going???

17 posted on 12/28/2006 2:56:17 PM PST by mware (By all that you hold dear... on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: mware

Make that the Sean Hannity thread. It is on the mark levin thread now though.


18 posted on 12/28/2006 2:57:30 PM PST by mware (By all that you hold dear... on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: mware
Thanks. Here's the graph:

Hugo Chavez
  1.19%
    
Hassan Nasrallah
  25.86%
    
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
  8%
    
Ayatollah Sistani
  0.75%
    
Donald Rumsfeld
  3.31%
    
Abdullah Ahmed Badawi
  1.25%
    
Pope Benedict XVI
  24.61%
    
Fuad el Siniora
  0.87%
    
Muhammad Yunus
  4.43%
    
Ismael Haniya
  28.23%
    
Saddam Hussein
  1.19%
    
Kim Jong Il
  0.31%
    

Total - 1601

19 posted on 12/28/2006 2:58:51 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

Darn, I maxed out my allowed number of votes. Oh well, B16 is inching up.


20 posted on 12/28/2006 4:26:22 PM PST by pbear8 (Hodie Christus Natus Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson