Priest Suspended over Communion -- [Forbidden Concelebration in Phoenix Diocese]

East Valley Tribune [AZ] ^ | April 30, 2004 | Lawn Griffiths

[Phx_RC]

A Gilbert Catholic priest, the Rev. John "Jack" Cunningham, founding pastor of two East Valley parishes, was suspended Wednesday afternoon pending further investigation for allegedly concelebrating a Eucharistic Mass with a non-Catholic clergyman.

Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix ordered Cunningham removed from duties at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church parish in Gilbert, which the priest founded in July 2002. He previously spent 17 years at St. Bridget Catholic Parish in Mesa, which he organized in June 1985.

"In the language of the church, Father Cunningham allegedly engaged in the forbidden concelebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice with a non-Catholic minister," said a statement released by the diocese Wednesday night. It was termed "celebrating the Mass in a manner that is inconsistent with Catholic teaching."

The alleged incident is believed to have occurred during a recent wedding at St. Anne's Catholic Parish in Gilbert in which Cunningham allowed a minister to join him in serving Holy Communion, or Eucharist, to Catholics on hand, said the Rev. Tim Davern, judicial vicar of the diocese.

Davern will lead the investigation with the Rev. Michael Diskin, assistant chancellor. Their report will be turned over to Olmsted for review and recommendations and then forwarded to the Vatican for final action.

Davern said witnesses at the wedding made diocesan officials aware of the incident.

Some 772 families are registered at St. Mary Magdalene, which meets temporarily at Williams Community School gym at the Arizona State University East campus in Mesa, pending completion of its planned campus at Williams Field Road and Parkcrest Street in south Gilbert.

Cunningham is one of nine Catholic priests ordered recently by Olmsted to remove their names from the "Phoenix Declaration," penned by No Longer Silent / Clergy for Justice, calling for full inclusion of gays and lesbian in religious and community life.

Cunningham has contributed to the weekly "Clergy Column" in the Tribune for many years. He could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

Contact Lawn Griffiths by email, or phone (480) 898-6522

[Phx_RC]

Check the developing No Longer Silent thread
for the related names and details.



Note: Bolds, underlines, and broom added for emphasis.

[gbcdoj]

Good work for Bishop Olmsted! Here is a man who won't allow heretics to run free in the diocese.

[NYer]

The news out of Phoenix just gets better and better!

Kudos! to Bishop Olmstead for his steadfast adherence to Catholic doctrine.

[RobbyS]

This guy means business. A true counterreformation bishop.

[Arguss]

How long before half his congregation stands up and says what a wonderful Priest he is, and that the Church is making a terrible mistake?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Congratulations!

[RobbyS]

The bishop can tell them that the Episcopal Church is accepting members!

[narses]

A real backbone ping!

[TotusTuus]

Christos Voskrese!

Christ has risen indeed!

Do you think that there is more than a few (grey haired) Priests in Phoenix realizing that their heterodox games are over?

Bishop Olmstead is quickly sending the message!

[m4629]

Bravo.

Encore.

[Phx_RC]

How do you know that Fr. Cunningham is a "wonderful" priest?

Please share with us why you feel that way about him.

[Jeff Chandler]

I remember an article a few years back in the Catholic Sun, the official dioceses newspaper, in which Fr. Cunningham argued for Communion with non-Catholics. I was so incensed I wrote a letter to the editor, which they published (after editing out the insulting parts!)

My two married daughters live within his parish boundaries, but drive over to St. Mary's to attend Mass, for obvious reasons.

[Phx_RC]

[Salvation]

Did you see this?

[Jeff Chandler]

See #12.

[Cicero]

Concelebration is when two or more ordained priests alternately recite parts of the Canon of the Mass. That is a different matter from helping to distribute Communion. If this article reports the offense correctly, then the headline appears to be misleading.

I'm not saying that the bishop didn't do the right thing. I don't believe it would be proper for a non-Catholic to act as an extraordinary minister of the Sacrament either. Or perhaps there was also concelebration, which I should think would be a worse offense.

[kstewskis]

Hi mom-ping!

[kstewskis]

Hey Jay!

See what's been happening in our diocese! Our bishop is an angel!

[Arguss]

"How do you know that Fr. Cunningham is a "wonderful" priest? Please share with us why you feel that way about him."

The comment was a tongue in cheek reference to what parishioners are doing all across the country when their pastors are exposed for what they are. They rush to his defense.

Sadly what it really shows is how entrenched liberalism is in the Church, not only in it's leaders, but in the pews also.

[BlackElk]

If Cunningham's congregation wants to support him, the diocese should get photos of the support group for future excommunications. They will not be missed.