Fair Treatment for a Warminster priest?
By Victoriaco | Saturday, May 29, 2010, 11:00
This week members of Warminster's Catholic community have been distressed
-
St George's Roman Catholic Church, Boreham Road.
to see their priest pictured on the front page of two local newspapers because
of a drink driving charge.
Father Bede Rowe, priest at St George’s Roman Catholic Church in the Boreham Road, was
found to be driving while over the legal limit in Warminster earlier this
month. He failed to take any services in church the following day because he
was held overnight by police in Melksham. One member of the congregation said, “We're all very upset about this as we have great respect for Father Bede as a
person and much admiration for the work he does in our community.”
A contrite Father Bede has written a personal letter of
apology to his congregation and it is not yet known whether he will continue in
his position as priest – but is this really front page news? Yes, a stupid
thing for a churchman to do and yes, sadly a good story for newspapers.
Members of his congregation have been deeply upset for the
priest who has fully acknowledged his mistake, but isn’t it a bit unfair of papers
to make such a meal of this?
And is even this mention of the story on a website
justifiable - although the Wiltshire Times story is already on line?
What does
Warminster think?
Comments
I agree with Wurdy's sentiments - a very christian view (sadly I'm not one!) but I can recognise understanding and an admirable spirit of forgiveness.
I can report that a journalist hanging around St George's School gates trying to make a story about Father Bede by talking to parents about Father Bede's role in the school. When challenged by the head teacher, Molly Johnson, he 'acidly replied' that no one would speak to him!
As a non-Catholic, non-church goer, I feel that it would be a shame for Warminster to loose an excellent parish priest who has done so much good in our community and with his hats brought a bit of style and character to the town. His remorse is palpable.
I do hope that the Bishop keeps Father Bede here in Warminster and I look forward to seeing him out and about on a bycicle? I wonder how he will cope with the cassock and he will have to fit a chinstrap to his bereta.
By Trumpton Funeral Services at 10:57 on 08/06/10
ReportThis was never a story of is it ok to dink and drive - just a question of whether the press had behaved in an appropriate way in giving it such prominence.
By Victoriaco at 11:30 on 06/06/10
ReportOf course not, princessbo. I would never condone drink driving for one moment, whether or not anyone had been injured or killed.
But that was not my point.
By Wurrdy at 08:39 on 06/06/10
ReportWould people be condoning this drink driver if he had killed an innocent person whilst driving under the influence.
By princessbo at 00:41 on 06/06/10
ReportI think the press coverage is appalling - especially the front page of the Wiltshire Times (didn't read the full story as, having seen the front page, I decided not to buy the paper after all.) I understand that it also made the Daily Mirror.
Fr Bede made a serious error of judgement. But haven't we all made terrible mistakes in our times? Haven't we all done foolish and dangerous things which don't reach the papers because we are 'ordinary people'. As soon as someone from the church is involved, the media goes to town. The implication is that if you belong to the church you should be better than anyone else. Simply not the case! Unfortunately, people seem to love to gloat over the misfortunes of others ( I think they call it Schadenfreude ) so it sells papers.
By Wurrdy at 14:39 on 02/06/10
Report