Thursday, January 23, 2014

Priest 'bullied' out of his Merseyside church by powerful drinkers' club among his flock

From Liverpool-

An inner circle at a Merseyside church turned against their priest after he challenged their after-service drinking culture, a report into his departure revealed.

The damning investigation was carried out by a retired Bishop followed reports of difficulties at  St Faith’s in Crosby, which once counted future Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Robert Runcie  among its flock. 

The report found that the inner circle at the church encouraged and  organised a campaign of  bullying against newly-arrived Father Simon Tibbs, who was forced out in September 2013.

 Bishop Stephen Lowe, who wrote the report, described its findings as “disturbing  and  distressing”.

A six-month episcopal visitation carried out by Bishop Stephen in the wake of Father Simon’s  departure found “serious  failings” in some  church-goers. Their behaviour towards their priest was   described by Bishop Stephen  as “not befitting of a Christian community”.


More here-

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/priest-bullied-out-merseyside-church-6553636

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