Parish back priest's wish to stay on in Dumfries

A DUMFRIES priest who is fighting moves by his local bishop in Galloway to transfer him, has won the support of his parish council. Fr Ralph Mancini, 61, of St Andrews, Dumfries, "should not be transfered at this stage in his life" said Deanna Cunningham, chair of the council. "He has Our full support. I am very upset at the way the bishop has treated him. There is a tradition in this
diocese that parish priests are not moved against their will".
Fr Mancini and Frs Denis Quinlan, 58, of St Joseph's, Kilmarnock, and Michael Lynch, 61, of St Peter-inchains, Ardrossan, have taken specialist advice on canon law and are planning an appeal to Rome over the decision by Bishop Maurice Taylor to move them. Fr Mancini has been parish priest in Dumfries for 15 years and has spent 35 of his 37 years since ordination in the area.
"According to canon law, a bishop has to give a serious reason for transferring a parish priest. I have not been given any reason," said the dissident priest.
Bishop Taylor, who has the backing of his diocesan appointments committee in the
struggle, has acknowledged the upset felt by some in Galloway. "My only motive has been to serve the church in Galloway as well as possible. I'm sorry the dispute has arisen and I hope it can be resolved soon."
The papal nuncio in London, Archbishop Luigi Barbarito, urged the three priests planning an appeal to Rome to "obey your bishop".