BATAVIA, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Catholic priest who vowed not to give up being pastor of a west suburban church when the Rockford bishop decided to replace him is no longer at the church.
Father Jared Twenty is new parochial administrator of Holy Cross Church in Batavia. He said on the church’s Facebook page that Father Jamers Parker and supporters “impeded” him from celebrating mass Wednesday.
Fr. Twenty says he relented and Fr. Parker said Mass.
On Friday, the Archdiocese of Rockford said Parker is now living with friends and continues to receive his salary and health care benefits. He has not been given a new assignment.
The archdiocese said Bishop David Malloy had wanted to address with Parker questions about his service as pastor but the priest would not respond.
In a statement posted on social media, Father Parker said he believes he still holds the office of pastor of Holy Cross.
But he said, “I have decided that it is in the best interest of the parishioners of Holy Cross Parish and its employees that I distance myself from the Parish campus.”
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