FLORIDA
News-Press

Written by
Christina Cepero

The former pastor of St. Leo Catholic Church in Bonita Springs is no longer a priest, according to a decision from a three-judge panel of priests from outside the Diocese of Venice.

Bishop Frank Dewane issued a letter to parishioners explaining the outcome of the canonical trial.

“By collegial decision, the judges discerned a pattern which demonstrated that Stanislaw Strycharz violated his fiduciary responsibilities to the Parish, his priestly promise to celibacy, and his promise of obedience to his Ordinary,” Dewane wrote. “They declared that Mr. Strycharz no longer has the ‘power, office, function, right, privilege, faculty, favor, title or insignia’ of the ministerial priesthood. This means that he is unable to function anywhere as a priest.”