ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – A truce has been brokered between Roman Catholic Bishop Clive Harvey and Father Gerald Paul, whose public spat had threatened to divide the worshippers right here.
One of many two mediators, Terrence P. Smith, issued a quick assertion late Saturday evening stating that “an settlement” had been reached to “promote concord within the Catholic Church in Grenada.”
The assertion didn’t point out whether or not Father Paul’s “indefinite” suspension had been lifted. Nonetheless, it stated that the settlement was reached following a gathering between the 2 Roman Catholic monks mediated by Smith and Shireen Wilkinson and witnessed by the previous legal professional normal and minister of authorized affairs, Dr. Francis Alexis KC.
The assertion stated that “sooner or later, neither Bishop Harvey nor Father Gerard Paul will make any public assertion apt to not be in the perfect curiosity of the Catholic Church.
“It was agreed that mediation will proceed in two weeks,” the assertion stated, including that the Vicar Common of the diocese will preside at Holy Mass on Sunday and that “Father Paul could also be within the Sanctuary.”
Earlier this month, Bishop Harvey stated that Father Paul had “not been suspended due to what he had stated about Gaza” however for his continued “lack of respect” for the Church and his “pronouncements that always stray from the reality.”
“I want to state…Father Gerard Paul had not been suspended due to what he stated about Gaza. His sentiments have been echoed by many out and in of the Catholic Church. The Church may be very involved and can proceed to talk out in regards to the unjust conditions on the earth, together with Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, and Sudan,” Bishop Harvey stated in a video assertion.
The Trinidadian-born Bishop stated that the Church would proceed that coverage whereas actively caring for individuals “amid these conditions.”.”
He stated the priest has been suspended “due to his persevering with lack of respect for the church of which he’s a priest and his pronouncements that always stray from the reality.”
Bishop Harvey stated suspending a priest from ministry “is to not be confused with dismissal from the priesthood. Suspension, nevertheless lengthy it could be, is at all times with a view to fraternal correction.
The controversy started on March 27, 2024, on the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Father Paul made subsequent statements on varied media platforms through which he accused the Church of not condemning the scenario in Gaza.
Father Paul stated at a current clergy retreat that the scenario was not talked about or addressed.
“I name upon the Church at present to get its freedom and to get its voice and communicate up for justice,” the priest stated whereas calling the Gaza Warfare a ‘wholesale slaughter’ of Palestinians and Muslims.
“We can’t rightly 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. Once you stand in silence, if you sit in silence, you’re a part of this injustice within the title of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit,’ the Grenadian-born Father Paul stated.
Associated
