THE parish priest in charge of St Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle has been recalled to Melbourne six months early to recover after an email of false allegations was widely circulated around the Catholic education system.
Six weeks ago a parent from one of the city’s Catholic schools sent out the email, which contained what have been described as “colourful” but deeply disturbing allegations against Fr Tony Maher, who’s been St Pat’s parish priest for more than six years. He was also chaplain at St Patrick’s Primary School and the Christian Brothers College.
Shortly after, the parent offered a full retraction and apology.
But Fr Maher was reportedly so shocked by the incident his health suffered.
He’s a member of the Melbourne-based Oblates of Mary Immaculate, whose Australian provincial, Fr Peter Daly says the local parish is in the process of healing.
“There have been recent ill-informed comments made about Fr Maher, which have caused him great personal distress and anguish,” Fr Daly says.
“In my role as provincial of the Oblates, I took the decision to have Fr Maher return to Melbourne to be with his family, whilst he receives the care he currently needs.”
Fr Daly says Fr Maher will be reposted in January next year.
He’d been due for a reposting anyway, as Oblates are not allowed to spend more than seven years as priest in one parish.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK and STEVE GRANT
We all love and miss Fr Tony and pray for his recovery. And ‘YES’ God did break the mold for this very special man. There will never be another like him. We also pray for the miss guided people that wrongly accused this truely great man, might they think of consquences of there actions.