Bishop Mum on Priest’s Disappearance

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Gallup Independent
November 10, 2014

http://gallupindependent.com/

Bishop James S. Wall of the Diocese of Gallup has refused to answer any questions about allegations surrounding the mysterious disappearance of one of his foreign priests.

Instead, Susan G. Boswell, his lead bankruptcy attorney, released a short announcement Wall had sent to be read to the St. Anthony Indian Mission parishioners Oct. 26.

The Rev. Ravi Kiran, aka Ravi Kiran Dasari or Ravikiran Dasari, a native of India, “abandoned his assignment” at the mission church on the Pueblo of Zuni, according to Wall’s announcement.

A list of questions about Kiran’s disappearance, allegations of possible misuse of church funds, and a subsequent audit of the mission’s financial accounts were submitted to Wall and to the Rev. Kevin Finnegan, the diocesan chancellor, on Tuesday. As is the bishop’s usual practice, he turned over the responsibility of responding to the media’s questions to his bankruptcy attorney.

“With respect to your questions regarding Fr. Ravi and his departure from St. Anthony Parish,” Boswell said in an email Friday, “attached is the announcement that was provided to parishioners in St. Anthony upon Fr. Ravi’s departure. Neither Bishop Wall nor the Diocese of Gallup has any additional comment beyond what is attached.”

Boswell instructed any further questions be directed to her rather than the bishop.

According to Zuni parishioners at St. Anthony’s, the following three-paragraph announcement was read to them by Finnegan, but they were not provided a copy.

“On Sunday October 11, 2014, the Diocese of Gallup was informed that Father Ravi Kiran former Administrator of Saint. (sic) Anthony Parish in Zuni, New Mexico abandoned his assignment and returned to India. He did this without notifying the diocese or requesting permission for a leave of absence. His actions were found to be unprovoked and a surprise to everyone. Fr. Kiran is a member of the Heralds of the Good News, of which he has been on leave for the past three years. The permission to be on leave from his Order in India expired this last June.”

“It is important to remember that Fr. Kiran did this without any consultation with others and acted on his own accord. Due to his actions, he is no longer the Administrator of Saint Anthony Parish in Zuni. The Diocese is in the process of assigning a Pastor to the Parish and School. As soon as a decision is made the community at St. Anthony’s will be informed of the Pastoral appointment.”

“During this process let us keep faith, maintain hope and in charity pray for Saint Anthony’s to the Glory of the Father and His Son Jesus the Christ. May we all continue to grow in rich Catholic faith, and express it through our daily love of God and our neighbor.”

— Reporter Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola can be contacted at 505-870-0745.

Contact: religion@gallupindependent.com