Bishop Clyde Harvey of Grenada has suspended a Roman Catholic priest for persistent contentious remarks concerning the assault on Gaza and criticism of the church.
Father Gerard Paul’s suspension, efficient April 4, 2024, adopted a public dispute with Bishop Harvey. The bishop emphasised adherence to Church guidelines and teachings, expressing concern that Father Paul’s unrepentant stance positioned him past fraternal correction.
The controversy started on March 27, 2024, on the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and subsequent statements made by Father Paul on varied media platforms during which he accused the church in Grenada for not condemning the state of affairs in Gaza.
Father Paul stated at a current clergy retreat, the state of affairs was not even talked about or addressed.
“I name upon the Church right this moment to get its freedom and to get its voice and converse up for justice,” the priest stated, whereas calling the Gaza Struggle a ‘wholesale slaughter’ of Palestinians and Muslims.
“We can’t rightly ever preach the Gospel if we don’t stand for justice. It’s time the Catholic Church stands for justice. It’s time we hear the voices of the pastors of the church, we hear the voices of the monks of the church, we hear the voices of the bishops, we hear the voices of the archbishops, we hear the voice of the pope standing for justice. While you stand in silence, while you sit in silence, you’re a part of these injustice within the title of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’ the Grenadian born Father Paul stated.
After Bishop Harvey addressed a church service, he expressed hesitance in talking out, emphasizing that the Eucharist is a unifying house, not one for division. He harassed the significance of standing up for justice whereas acknowledging that views differ amongst people. He clarified that clergy members had certainly thought of the state of affairs in Gaza throughout a retreat, refuting claims on the contrary. He absolved Father Paul of duty for not being current all through everything of the retreat.
Previous to the announcement of the priest’s suspension, Bishop Harvey issued a press release noting the offense and concern attributable to Father Paul’s actions and phrases. He criticized Father Paul’s conduct as showing extra targeted on self-promotion than on searching for justice, deeming it inappropriate for a priest.
A subsequent assertion from the Diocese of George’s acknowledged that some people shared Father Paul’s viewpoint on Gaza however condemned his ongoing criticism of the Catholic Church and its management as each misguided and divisive. The diocese cited a sample of habits past his remarks on March 27, characterised by assaults on the Church and dissemination of deceptive info.
Regardless of requires him to stop such habits, Father Paul confirmed no inclination to take action, prompting the choice to droop him. Bishop Harvey emphasised that such actions undermine the Church’s authority and mislead the trustworthy. The suspension was deemed essential to handle the hurt precipitated to each the trustworthy and the diocese as a complete.
