{"id":15121,"date":"2012-07-10T05:08:33","date_gmt":"2012-07-10T11:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=15121"},"modified":"2016-09-30T17:06:25","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T21:06:25","slug":"illinois-priest-banned-from-pulpit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2012\/07\/illinois-priest-banned-from-pulpit\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois priest banned from pulpit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The \u201cImprovising Priest\u201d has had his preaching faculties removed. \u00a0Details: <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

A priest forced out of his parish by Belleville\u2019s Catholic bishop for improvising prayers during Mass will no longer be able to preach in public as of today.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Rev. William Rowe said Monday that Bishop Edward Braxton has suspended him and removed his \u201cfaculties,\u201d or license to practice ministry under church law. The move has been associated in recent years with the punishment of clergy accused of sexually abusing minors.<\/p>\n

Rowe, the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Mount Carmel, Ill., has not been accused of abuse, but he has clashed with Braxton over altering the liturgical prayers of the Roman Missal \u2014 the book of prayers, chants and responses used during Mass.<\/p>\n

Last month, St. Mary\u2019s parishioners learned that Braxton had officially removed Rowe, their pastor of 18 years. But a separate letter from Braxton recently informed Rowe, 72, that not only would he have to leave the church, but that he could not preach in public anywhere.<\/p>\n

Rowe said he could no longer celebrate public Masses or preside at weddings, funerals or baptisms. The only exception, Rowe said, involves a dying person; he can still hear a confession, baptize or anoint that person.<\/p>\n

Rowe was scheduled to witness a wedding Saturday \u2014 and four others over the summer \u2014 but won\u2019t be able to preside. He also will not be able to preside over a funeral Wednesday for an elderly St. Mary\u2019s parishioner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very hard for the family,\u201d Rowe said. \u201cI\u2019ll be there, but I can\u2019t participate.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesman for the diocese, Monsignor John Myler, did not respond to a request for an interview.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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