BATAVIA (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Parishioners at a west suburban Catholic church have planned another prayer vigil for Thursday night in support of their pastor who is being removed from their church.
The Rockford Diocese recently said Fr. Jim Parker was given one more year than normal as pastor of Holy Cross Church in Batavia, and that while he is being removed from the church this month, he is not being given a new assignment.
The diocese will not offer specifics why Fr. Parker is being removed, but does say the priest has not been willing to discuss with diocese officials various concerns that have arisen regarding his service at Holy Cross.
To parishioners like Dan Wurtz, the priest is being “taken out of circulation, so to speak.”
“There are some priests you like, some priests you don’t like, but you get on with it. But, it’s disturbing when you see someone who does a great job, and instead of being rewarded…they seem to be punished.”
In a FlockNote to his parishioners, Fr. Parker has asked that no going-away party be planned for him for this weekend, because he has not yet been formally told in writing that he is being removed from Holy Cross a week from now.
Wurtz said Fr. Parker has told people he does not have a place to live, if he were to leave the church. The diocese said, in a statement, the priest was offered a residence, but rejected the offer.
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