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LOS ANGELES: FIVE PRIESTS DEPOSED FROM HOLY ORDERS
Former priests, deacon, led parishes that declared separation from diocese
Bishop J. Jon Bruno has announced to the clergy of the diocese that acting according to the canons of the national Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los Angeles, he has deposed Praveen Bunyan, Richard Menees and Kathleen Adams (former rector, associate rector and deacon assistant at St. James’ Church, Newport Beach), William Thompson (former rector of All Saints’ Church, Long Beach) and Jose Poch (former rector of St. David’s Church, North Hollywood), permanently removing them from ordained ministry in the Church.
The four priests and one deacon were inhibited, or suspended, from their ministries in August 2004 when they attempted to transfer their canonical residence to the Diocese of Luwero, Uganda (Africa) and declared that their three parishes were part of that diocese.
Bishop Bruno inhibited the clergy on the grounds that they had broken their ordination vows of obedience to their bishop and abandoned the doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church. Canon law requires that clergy who have been inhibited must be deposed after six months unless they repent and make restitution within that time. In this case, none of the inhibited clergy responded to attempts by Bishop Bruno’s office to contact them in hopes of reconciliation.
In their recent communiqué, the Primates of the Anglican Communion stated that they did not approve of bishops interfering in other dioceses of the Church. Although Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda was present at the primates’ meeting and signed the communiqué, he has made no public move to condemn the actions of the Bishop of Luwero in claiming the three Southern California parishes as part of that jurisdiction. Recently, Bishop Kisekka of Luwero ordained Kathleen Adams, former deacon at St. James’ Church, to the priesthood in his diocese.
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