[Straight Vermonter]

Can you give some of the back story?

[markomalley]

The back story (see this thread) is that the bishop put some orthodox priests in this parish to straighten up a bunch of hyper-liberals. They didn't like it and went around the bishop's back to the Abp Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio (the Vatican "ambassador"), demanding that these priests be removed.

The bishop acted like a bishop (most unusual these days).

[sayuncledave]

The good priests are from a Spanish order of a conservative nature, and the congregation wrote to the bishop, and to the Apostolic Nuncio (IIRC) about the priests, who, evidently did nothing improper for a traditional conservative Catholic priest. In truth, I am very, very happy with our pastor here. And yet, I would, upon his retirement, welcome gentlemen such as these. Some members of the parish have apparently also withheld giving at the offertory, and the attached school is in danger. I’m broke at the moment, but plan on tossing them a bit next payday. I hope that helps clear a tiny bit.