By Mary Wozniak
The News-Press
August 12 2010
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100812/NEWS0102/8120390/1075/Priest-s-removal-splits-Bonita-Springs-parish
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| Rev. Stan Strycharz (news-press.com file photo) |
At least one parishioner at St. Leo Catholic Church is withholding donations. Others say good riddance.
Almost three weeks after learning their pastor was removed for possible financial irregularities - and also that he had fathered a child - members of St. Leo in Bonita Springs are split over the issue and the bishop's handling of it.
The Rev. Stan Strycharz was placed on forced leave July 23 by Bishop Frank Dewane of the Diocese of Venice, who revealed to the congregation at a Mass the following Sunday that Strycharz had fathered a child.
Parishioner Ed FitzGerald said he is withholding his donation envelopes for the Sunday collection in protest.
"I read about Father Stan having a child. That doesn't disturb me too very much," FitzGerald said. But he's concerned about what he says is a violation of trust in the way it was revealed.
"It's apparent the bishop knew about this child for several years. He must have acceded to Father Stan staying in the priesthood," he said. "That to me is almost a violation of the sanctity of the confessional booth."
Diocese officials will not say when or for how long Dewane has known Strycharz has a child.
"It's like we're in limbo there over at that church." said parishioner Beverly Gentile. "I was planning on writing to the bishop, 'Somebody better explain to us what's going on.'''
If the bishop put Strycharz on leave, "Why are we paying his salary?" Gentile asked.
The diocese is reviewing all parishioners' concerns and complaints while an audit of up to five years of church finances continues, said Bob Reddy, diocese spokesman. He estimated it could be up to two months before the investigation is complete.
Strycharz has been at St. Leo for five years and oversaw an $21 million expansion of the church campus that is ongoing. The church grew from 900 to 1,500 seats, and a parish life center and education center are being built.
At the construction site Wednesday, the sound of hammering competed with the growl of heavy machinery.
Richard and Maureen Schulze, co-chairs of the parish's building fund, support Strycharz and sent a letter advocating that church members stop contributing to the fund until they get some answers.
They also want members to bombard Dewane and other church officials with letters of protest and support.
Edwin Olivieri has donated to the building fund for three years and said he will continue to do so monthly.
"I am not pushing for him to come back," he said of Strycharz.
Olivieri said he has been going to Catholic churches both in Puerto Rico and the United States since age 3 or 4. "I go to church because of the living God and I believe in Christianity, not because of a specific priest," he said.
Strycharz has remained mum on his leave of absence and his fatherhood. He could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, fear seems to pervade the parish, Gentile said.
"They're scared to talk to you," she said. "They go out there on Sunday and run to their cars as if someone was going to ask them something. What are you afraid of? The truth has got to come out. ... Get us a replacement priest in the church and let him go on his way."
FitzGerald said he wants Strycharz to stay.
"The Catholic Church is in dire need of priests, and Father Stan is a wonderful priest," he said. "But he is also a human being."
Contact: mwozniak@news-press.com
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