Several months ago Fr. Mark Payne, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, was suspended from his duties as pastor of St. Monica parish in Whitefish Bay and St Eugene's in Fox Point. He was also the Judicial Vicar--chief Canon Law dude--for the Archdiocese.
That suspension followed revelations that the priest had a 'long-term relationship' with another man, including sharing a condo residence with him, vacationing with him, and bar-hopping with him. Many pictures of the pair could easily be found on social media(!!!)
A spokesperson for Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee told The Pillar that the archdiocese has “spoken with” judicial vicar Fr. Mark Payne, who hired as a parish schoolteacher last year a layperson with whom he had maintained a public romantic relationship, and with whom he has shared a condo for decades.
While Payne’s move has caused concern among some Wisconsin Catholics, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee told The Pillar it has given the priest verbal warnings about his “lifestyle,” but has indicated that it does not plan to initiate canonical investigations into the priest’s conduct, or to use other canonical mechanisms to address the concerns. ...
Oh, there's more.....
...In October, Payne announced to families at St. Monica’s School that he had hired as a middle school theology teacher a man who “comes to us with a degree in theology, high school teaching experience, and was in formation to join the Jesuit order.” ...
Guess who that was?
(Informed readers would have mild coronaries when "Jesuit formation" was mentioned, but we digress......)
Yah, so how did this end?
The Archdiocese reprimanded Fr. Payne, ended the suspension and moved Fr. Payne to St Anthony on the Lake parish in Pewaukee as an associate pastor.
He was reprimanded for 'poor HR practices'--namely, hiring his lover as a teacher.
At least he's not an ephebophile.
Meantime, his lover quit the job at St Monica's grade school to 'care for his family.'
We are not making that up.
6 comments:
St. Anthony on the Lake has a school. AND they're a "welcoming" parish. So of course, he's assigned there!
In better days, Sunday donations would dry up.
In other words, he’s a typical Francispriest of the “who am I to judge” mentality.
….Judicial Vicar--chief Canon Law dude--for the Archdiocese.…….
What a sad state of affairs.
What do you mean a "Francispriest?" This has been going on under "Saint" John Paul II and Pope Benedict. Also, Weakland/Sklba, Dolan and Listecki have tolerated this behavior.
I watch Heart Of The Nation as a disabled housebound individual, and Father Payne's warm smile, thoughtful homilies and caring demeanor touched me. None of the other priests on this channel, or the Bishop, have his aura of friendliness, calm, and reassurance. I noticed that he had 'vanished' and was surprised when I googled and learned what was going on. However, I do not see any favoritism in the teaching assignment if the person was qualified, which he apparently was. I cannot speak to the breaking of the celibacy vows or possible rationalization behind that, but that is Father Payne's burden and his confession to make and his life to amend. I say 'Live and let live,' and maybe Father Payne could find peace by leaving the priesthood. But I don't see his 'lifestyle' affecting me in any way, except to make me ponder on the frailties of all men.
Amen
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