Archbishop wanted controversial priest Father John Walshe to resign ‘weeks ago’

AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Times

Timna Jacks Chris Vedelago

Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart called for Father John Walshe’s resignation long before the controversial priest stepped down, a spokesman for the Melbourne archdiocese has confirmed.

Archbishop Hart had for weeks been pressuring Father Walshe to resign from his position as Mentone-Parkdale parish priest due to a “lack of unity in the parish”, archdiocese spokesman Shane Healy said.

Mr Healy said the resignation, which was announced last week, followed a “long and complex process”, but he would not elaborate on the reason for the delay.

“It was his [Archbishop Hart’s] judgment that the parish was not running as it should,” Mr Healy said at the weekend.

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