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  Anglican Priest Removed from Church in Vic West

By Keith Vass
Oak Bay News
September 28, 2007

http://www.oakbaynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=23&cat=23&id=1073480&more=0

Vic West church now searches for ways to carry on aid work

Father Antonio Osorio will never lead the congregation of Saint Saviour's Anglican church again, but the parish will strive to carry on the work he began there.

And $90,000 the Vic West church is holding to run the suspended programs for the needy will go towards the causes it was donated for.

Those messages were delivered to the media last week by Rev. David Opheim, interim priest-in-charge at the Vic West church, alongside Rev. Bruce Bryant-Scott, executive director of the Anglican Diocese of B.C.

Osorio resigned two weeks ago after admitting to allegations that he had beached the church's sexual exploitation policy, which prohibit consenting relations with adults in the church's care.

The church will now decide how to use $41,000 it has received from various source to run a night shelter for the homeless and $49,000 held in a bank account for the Rainbow Kitchen lunch program.

Donations have continued to come in the weeks since Osorio's resignation, but Opheim said new cheques are being returned with a note asking donors to reconsider.

Opheim said a group of 24 met Thursday night to discuss the future of the Rainbow Kitchen.

Eight people volunteered to form a committee to talk with other Victoria aid agencies to see how a revamped Rainbow Kitchen could contribute to feeding the hungry.

Welcome House, a shelter for immigrant women fleeing abusive relationships begun by Osorio, will stay open under the leadership of Rev. Logan McMenamie, dean of Christ Church Cathedral.

Bryant-Scott said the diocese is continuing its investigation into the allegations against Osorio to understand everything that occured. The church is co-operating with a police investigation.

He also said Osorio has expressed interest in returning to service as a minister.

It would be possible for Osorio to be reinstated as a priest, but not without "a significant amount of work," he said.

Though Osorio has apologized, he would have to show the church "real repentance," and satisfy B.C. Bishop James Cowan that he had healed.

Even if he were reinstated as a priest, Osorio would never lead Saint Saviour's again, and would not likely work for the diocese of B.C., Bryant-Scott said.

 
 

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