Oklahoma City archbishop removes secretly married priest from parish leadership

The Oklahoman ^ | February 20, 2015 | Carla Hinton

[Gamecock]

A Roman Catholic priest who secretly married has been removed from his post as administrator of a prominent downtown church, The Oklahoman has learned.

Diane Clay, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said Friday that Archbishop Paul S. Coakley removed the Rev. Dan Letourneau as administrator of St. Joseph Old Cathedral, 307 NW 4, for a personal matter that does not involve any illegal activity.

In a statement to The Oklahoman, Coakley said he learned about Letourneau’s marriage after removing him from his post.

“After I removed Father Dan Letourneau from his assignment at St. Joseph Old Cathedral on Tuesday, it came to my attention that he had recently entered into a civil marriage,” Coakley said.

“This is obviously a very serious violation of the commitments, obligations and duties of priesthood. I deeply regret his decision and the impact this has had on the Catholic community and the people he has served. I will continue to pray for Dan and for those who have been hurt by his actions.”

Roman Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy upon joining the priesthood and are forbidden to marry.

In a 2013 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, nearly six in 10 of American Catholics said they favor allowing priests to get married.

According to Comanche County District Court records, Letourneau, 57, obtained a marriage license in Lawton and paid for a judge to perform his marriage to Melinda Anne Rivera Harlow in November.

Letourneau, a native of Ponca City, remains a priest until an official process is completed, “but may not exercise his priestly ministry,” Clay said Friday.

Neither Letourneau nor his wife could be reached for comment.

Clay said Letourneau was serving as administrator of St. Joseph Old Cathedral because of the death last year of the previous pastor, the Rev. Bruce Natsuhara. Coakley named a new pastor of the downtown parish Wednesday.

Parishioners learned about Letourneau’s removal during Ash Wednesday services, when a letter from Coakley was read announcing the change.

Letourneau’s previous service to the archdiocese included serving as associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Edmond.

Clay said Coakley appointed the Rev. Price Oswalt as pastor of St. Joseph Old Cathedral, effective March 3. The Rev. George Parackal, a St. Anthony Hospital chaplain, will serve as administrator until Oswalt arrives.

Oswalt currently serves as pastor of St. Wenceslaus Church in Prague and previously served as rector for the National Shrine for the Infant Jesus of Prague in Prague.

[Campion]

Don’t FRoman Catholics tell us all the time that priests are allowed to marry?

???

They can't marry and remain in the priesthood. They can apply to be laicized and then marry after their application is approved. Who ever told you different?

[Campion]

Nope — doesn’t work that way. The Eastern Rites (and the Orthodox) ordain married men, they don’t permit ordained men to marry.

[LadyDoc]

heh. Your link is very interesting.

[LadyDoc]

about that link: If the priest was involved in this “new age” group, it might have been the reason he was removed by the bishop even before the bishop was aware that he married the bimbo who ran the group.

[trebb]

They can't marry and remain in the priesthood. They can apply to be laicized and then marry after their application is approved. Who ever told you different?

I've seen some of the same posts - usually when trying to justify that the Church isn't really overstepping with interpretation of the Bible when folks point out that when Paul said he thought the teachers/priests should be celibate, he made it clear that it wasn't and edict of the Holy Spirit but a personal preference - yet it became doctrine.

[metmom]

Unless they’re imports from the Episcopalian church.....

Then they can remain married.

Kind of like citizens have no rights but illegals coming in get more privileges than them.

Catholic double speak noted.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thanks for the correction. That makes sense. I refrain from suggesting the Episcopal Church. He chose his punishment and will have to be a defrocked married man.