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Bishop Paul S. Loverde informed the Rev. James R. Haley in an Oct. 28 formal notice that he is being removed for violating a gag order a year ago, which barred him from disclosing wrongdoing by priests in order "to avoid scandal, to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and to protect the reputation and privacy of both the faithful and priests of this diocese." The action prompted a national Catholic watchdog group to call for a local investigation of the bishop for intimidation of a witness in a civil proceeding.

If he's really being removed because he testified against an abusive priest, Bishop Loverde may require a Freeping.

"[The] public availability of extremely scandalous and defamatory material in his deposition warrants immediate action."

If only they were as tough on abusive and homosexual priests as they are on whistle-blowers...

The bishop said he had consulted with experts in canon law and "the field of psychology, and have also sought fraternal advice from other diocesan bishops" before taking the step to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church.

Uh oh. "Psychologists"? There's a giant red flag... I wonder what other diocesan bishops he consulted? Mahoney? Law? McCormick? Hubbard? Clark?

This stinks to high heaven. I hope Catholics in the Arlington diocese are ready to put some heat on Bishop Loverde. Sounds like he needs it.

The bishop said he had consulted with experts in canon law and "the field of psychology, and have also sought fraternal advice from other diocesan bishops" before taking the step to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church.

Gee, the bishop didn't pray to help discern a course of action. He sounds more like a CEO than a shepherd of souls.

Yes, these bishops are just like the Soviets, who called in "psychologists" to evaluate and send dissenters to the Gulag. I am so disgusted with these overstuffed venal ugly men who call themselves bishops.