BishopAccountability.org
	Parishioners Push to Reinstate Pastor Petition Drive Starts in Newton By Lucas Wall Boston Globe [Newton MA] October 16, 2005 NEWTON -- Parishioners of a Catholic church whose beloved pastor was recently removed over diocesan charges of financial misconduct took their petition drive to the community yesterday, hoping to demonstrate there is widespread support for his reinstatement. Eighteen members of Our Lady's Friends, a nonprofit group founded to protest the forced resignation of the Rev. Walter Cuenin from Newton's Our Lady Help of Christians Church, gathered yesterday morning in a print shop that has become their makeshift headquarters to organize the day's work. They later headed out in small groups, some to place leaflets and petitions on front doors, others to gather signatures at places including a nearby Dunkin' Donuts and the Boston College football game. "He's been a wonderful pastor, the reason why I go to Our Lady's," Janet Kalunian said as she collected signatures of customers waiting in line at the doughnut shop. "I feel like I need to do whatever I can to rectify the situation." About half of the customers signed the petition while a reporter was present. Others declined or said they were not familiar with the situation. Cuenin, who had served as Our Lady's pastor for 12 years, was asked by the Archdiocese of Boston to resign three weeks ago. The archdiocese said Cuenin improperly accepted stipends from the church for performing baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and he drove a Honda Accord leased against church policy for him and visiting priests. Church officials have said Cuenin has agreed to repay $75,000. He has been moved to St. Julia's in Weston pending his next assignment. Many church members say they believe Cuenin was forced out because of his embrace of divorced Catholics and gays and lesbians, as well as his outspokenness on finding prominent roles for women in the church and his call for the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law over Law's role in the church's sexual abuse scandal. Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley denied earlier this month that Cuenin's activism, sometimes contrary to church policy, played a role in the decision to remove him from Our Lady. But some area Catholics have voiced concern that O'Malley is purging priests viewed as troublemakers by the Vatican. While many of those collecting signatures yesterday or signing petitions supporting Cuenin's reinstatement were Our Lady parishioners, others were members of other parishes or non-Catholics concerned about last month's decision to have him step down. "This has brought more people together than anything that has happened in Newton in a long time," said Dick Rowland, a Newton resident who attends St. Bernard's Church. He and his wife, Martha, volunteered to help the petition effort. They also donated $100 to Our Lady's Friends to help pay for printing and other costs. "We just like to support others," he said. "We're outraged about what happened to him. The people have got to resist." Susan Migliaccio, a parishioner who signed a petition while waiting in line at Dunkin' Donuts, said the church is not the same anymore. She has stopped attending Mass and predicted attendance and donations will drop as families seek other parishes or leave the Catholic church entirely. "As long as we're vocal about it and we keep the message going that this is unacceptable, maybe something will change," Migliaccio said. "What they did to him on a personal and professional level is just horrible. That's what's pulling me away from the church." Mel Hannigan, who is coordinating the petition drive, said many parishioners and others believe they must do something to support Cuenin. "This is a way for them to put their feeling on paper," she said. "We want to show the importance of Walter and the importance of this injustice to the community."
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