Archdiocese: Gumbleton not forced out for condemning abuse

DETROIT -- Archdiocese ofDetroit officials disputed reports today that they forced AuxiliaryBishop Thomas Gumbleton from running St. Leo's Catholic Church parish.

"Itis not for a bishop to put conditions on retiring," said Ned McGrath,the archdiocese's spokesman. "If you retire, it is accepted. You arenot being forced out. We took him at his word."

The outspokenGumbleton is 77 years old, and church law requires bishops to retire at75 years old, McGrath said. However, there is no law requiring retiringbishops to remove themselves from all of their church's leadership.

Gumbletonlast year stated he wanted to retire, but he wanted to stay on to runthe parish on a yearly basis, McGrath said. But in accepting theresignation, Pope Benedict XVI informed Gumbleton he had to resign fromall posts, McGrath said. Gumbleton does not want to do this and in aJan. 21 Mass at St. Leo's Catholic Church stated he was being oustedfor speaking out against priests who molest children.

Last yearin Columbus Ohio, Gumbleton testified that the statute of limitationson such sexual assaults needs to be extended. He also said he wasmolested as a child by a clergyman. Those statements are the realreason he is leaving, Gumbleton said to St. Leo's parishioners duringthe address.

"It's certainly not my will," Gumbleton said duringthe Mass, which was videotaped by a parishioner and then streamed onthe National Catholic Reporter Web site. "I did not choose to leave St.Leo's. It was something forced upon me."

Gumbleton also said he was right to speak out about sex abuse and the clergy.

"I do not regret what I did," he said during the Mass as the parishioners stood and applauded.

AnnSteffy, who occasionally worships at St. Leo's, is among the more than1,000 people who have signed a petition demanding that Gumbleton stayat St. Leo's. She said removing him, even if he had resigned, smacks ofofficials getting back at Gumbleton for his comments.

"They can cop to the rules, which can be bent," Steffy said.

In a letter sent to area media, Steffy, of Royal Oak, said church officials should let Gumbleton stay.

"BishopThomas Gumbleton is being banished from St. Leo's where he serves thepoor and the peaceful and speaks truth to power," she wrote. "Perhapsthe Roman Catholic Church is more concerned with power than with truth?"

McGrathsaid officials are not looking to penalize Gumbleton for his comments.Gumbleton previously has preached contrary to church doctrine byembracing gays and calling for women to be ordained as priests.

Gumbleton'slast day at St. Leo's was to be Jan. 20. But Gumbleton indicated hewanted to stay to officials in the months leading up to that date,McGrath said.

Unlike priests, bishops answer directly to the popeand must abide by his retirement decisions. Priests who retire can asktheir bishop or cardinal to be allowed to remain in a parish in somecapacity.

McGrath said the archdiocese took extra steps to ensureGumbleton's departure was smooth. For example, he said Gumbleton askedfor letters from the archdiocese for St. Leo's parishioners explainingwhy he was leaving.

The archdiocese delivered 300 copies of aletter to the parish on Jan. 22 and on Jan. 17, Bishop John Quinnparticipated in a two-hour meeting with members of St. Leo's ParishCouncil.

During the Jan. 21 Mass, Gumbleton said he was surprisedby the letter to parishioners and had not seen it before it wasdistributed, according to the videotape.

McGrath also said Gumbleton was given one year to make the transition in St. Leo's leadership an easier one.

The News could not reach Gumbleton today for comment.

You can reach Santiago Esparza at (313) 222-2127 or sesparza@detnews.com.