After ‘hookup’ scandal and ‘extended leave,’ Msgr. Burrill resumes ministry

CNA Staff   By CNA Staff

June 17, 2022 Catholic News Agency News Briefs 3 Print

 

Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill / U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 17, 2022 / 10:54 am (CNA).

Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill has returned to active ministry as a priest in his home diocese, after he resigned last year from his post with the U.S. bishops ahead of reports alleging inappropriate behavior, including his use of an LGBTQ dating and “hookup” app.

Bishop William Callahan of La Crosse, Wisconsin, announced June 14 that he appointed Burrill to serve as the parochial administrator of St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in West Salem. In a statement to parishioners, Callahan addressed Burrill’s new position following an “extended leave.”

“During his leave from active ministry, Monsignor Burrill engaged in a sincere and prayerful effort to strengthen his priestly vows and has favorably responded to every request made by me and by the Diocese,” Callahan said.

He expressed full support for Burrill.

“Let me state unequivocally that the Diocese of La Crosse has received no allegations of illegal misconduct of any kind by Monsignor Burrill,” he added, “and that I have every confidence in returning Monsignor Burrill to active ministry and in his ability to accompany the people of God of this great parish as together you journey toward a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ.”

He concluded: “I thank you for your patience, your prayers and for your welcoming support of Monsignor Burrill.”

Callahan noted that Burrill has served as a priest of his home Diocese of La Crosse since 1998, and returned after serving the U.S. bishops in Washington, D.C.

In July 2021, Burrill resigned from his post as the general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ahead of a report by The Pillar alleging inappropriate behavior and the frequent use of the dating and “hookup” app Grindr.

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PHOTOS: Pope Francis returns to Vatican after surgery

June 16, 2023 Catholic News Agency 1
Pope Francis left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped to pray in front of the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica, and made a quick visit to a group of religious sisters close to St. Peter’s Square. / Vatican Media.

Rome Newsroom, Jun 16, 2023 / 03:10 am (CNA).

Pope Francis was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to a round of applause on Friday, after an eight-day stay following abdominal surgery.

He greeted hospital staff and other patients as he left the hospital in a wheelchair June 16. Outside the building, the pope was asked how he was doing by media, to whom he said, “I’m still alive!”

After Francis left in his white Fiat 500, surgeon Dr. Sergio Alfieri told reporters, “The pope is well. He’s better than before,” according to the Associated Press.

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis will lead the Angelus on Sunday as usual and other audiences for the upcoming days will take place.

The pope’s Wednesday morning audience with the public in St. Peter’s Square on June 21 has been canceled, instead, “to safeguard the Holy Father’s postoperative recovery.”

Pope Francis stopped for a moment of prayer before the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica after being discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on the morning of June 16, 2023. Vatican Media.
Pope Francis stopped for a moment of prayer before the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica after being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on the morning of June 16, 2023. Vatican Media.

Before returning to the Vatican on Friday, Francis stopped to pray in front of the Salus Populi Romani Marian icon.

The historic icon is kept in a chapel in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Pope Francis has also stopped there after previous hospitalizations and visits the icon before and after every international trip.

Pope Francis waves to other patients as he leaves Rome's Gemelli Hospital shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped to pray in front of the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica, and made a quick visit to a group of religious sisters close to St. Peter's Square. Vatican Media.
Pope Francis waves to other patients as he leaves Rome’s Gemelli Hospital shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped to pray in front of the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica, and made a quick visit to a group of religious sisters close to St. Peter’s Square. Vatican Media.

On his approach to the Vatican, he made a quick private visit to a group of religious sisters who run a guesthouse next to St. Peter’s Square.

The Italian Istituto Santissima Maria Bambina (“Institute of the Most Holy Child Mary”) is currently holding its general chapter meeting in Rome.

The pope also thanked the law enforcement who guard the entrance to the Vatican.

Pope Francis left Rome's Gemelli Hospital shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped to pray in front of the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica, and made a quick visit to a group of religious sisters close to St. Peter's Square. Vatican Media.
Pope Francis left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped to pray in front of the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica, and made a quick visit to a group of religious sisters close to St. Peter’s Square. Vatican Media.

According to daily updates from the Vatican, the 86-year-old Pope Francis has been recovering normally after undergoing a three-hour surgery to repair an incisional hernia on June 7.

A team of surgeons removed scar tissue and operated on a hernia in the pope’s abdominal wall at the site of a previous surgical incision.

The June 7-16 stay was Pope Francis’ third hospitalization in the past two years.

He was hospitalized for four days in March for a lung infection and had part of his large intestine removed in July 2021 due to diverticulitis.

[…]

2 Comments

  1. Mitre next! While the good, holy Catholic priests are silenced…
    God spare this upside down Church… Feels like the titanic

    Reply

  2. Yet priests like Fr. Altman and Fr. White do not get a second chance for much lesser offenses, i.e saying things that hurt feelings.

    Reply

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