Area Catholics in the diocese of Richmond are outraged that a Catholic church, where Mass is regularly offered, would be used for a Protestant denomination's ceremonies.

Bishop Barry Knestout of the Richmond diocese addressed the pushback in a statement Wednesday, saying, "Use of space in a Catholic parish for the Episcopal Church to conduct their own religious ceremony is well within the accepted ecumenical teachings and norms of the Church."

Worse, the bishop and his accomplices are accused of pocketing the loan proceeds.

A second count of bank fraud was levelled against the bishop for taking out a second loan from Agribank for $350,000, using church property as collateral, and then stealing the loan proceeds.

The third count alleges the bishop and his confederates in the diocesan offices overdrew the diocese's bank account at Agribank by $250,000 and stole the money.

"If he returns, the gangs will go after him again," Bishop Alvarado said. "He fled because of the threats."

His son's U.S. asylum request was denied last month for lack of reasonable fear, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security notification seen by Reuters.

Gillin succeeds the Rt. Rev. David Hicks, who announced his resignation in April 2019, noting he would return to congregational ministry as rector of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Butler, Pennsylvania, a parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Commenting on the decision of the College, Hicks said, "Bishop Gillin is a godly man. We worked well together when I was in the diocese. I am sure he will do well as God leads him. He and the people of the diocese remain in my prayers."