Corpus Christi pastor told to leave early

National Catholic Reporter, Sept 11, 1998 by Arthur Jones

WASHINGTON -- In the face of continuing protests by Corpus Christi parishioners in Rochester, N.Y., the local bishop has ordered their pastor to vacate the church a month earlier than anticipated.

Bishop Matthew Clark had warned that if parishioners continued to protest the Oct. 4 transfer of Fr. James Callan, he would bring forward the date of Callan's ouster.

With the new directive, Sept. 6 was to be the final Sunday at which Callan, 50, would celebrate Mass in the parish that has attracted Rome's ire -- and, increasingly, Clark's dismay -- for having women preside at Communion services, inviting Protestant parishioners to Communion, and blessing homosexual unions.

The series of rallies, meeting and organizing sessions had continued unabated as groups of 1,000 parishioners and more pledged to continue Corpus Christi community in the spirit Callan exemplified in his 22 years as pastor. Even as parish staff prepared for a Sept. 4 "transition" meeting, they issued a statement saying they support the practices and issues over which Callan is being ousted.

In the past two weeks, local publicity about Corpus Christi has attracted more than 200 new members to the 3,000-member church. "I've told them I'm not going to be here," Callan told NCR, "and they've said, `We know that. We just want to join this church.'"

The current turmoil at Corpus Christi highlights tension that has built up over the years. In an Aug. 17 statement, Clark said that various Vatican congregations had expressed concern "about some of the liturgical and pastoral practices at Corpus Christi." Callan believes his ouster followed a July 23 letter to Clark from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

However, Clark said the transfer decision was his, In a recent interview with NCR, he praised Corpus Christi Parish and its ministries but said he followed his best pastoral judgment when he thought the parish went beyond what the church community could support.

"I've tried to be careful not to denigrate or in any way personally assault people who hold a different point of view," Clark said. "I've simply said you have to live with the consequences of your actions, and we cannot sustain certain kinds of activity with the current self-understanding of the church, its disciplines and norms and still hold it together."

Callan told NCR he does not know what Clark's plans are for him. "t don't know where I'm going and haven't heard any word about who's coming here," he said.

The priest, who lives in a tiny parish-owned bungalow a couple of blocks from the church, said he doesn't know where he'll live after Sept. 6. "I have to leave everything."