TORONTO -- About 100 parishioners of St Martin of Tours parish bussed in from Mississauga in succession September 19 to make their parish be of importance tos more visible to the public at large.

At unevens with both their pastor Fr Octavio Beltran and the area bishop John Boissonneau, the parishioners stationed themselves across from St Michael's Cathedral bearing signs which said, "Save our parish" "Deliver us from "and " Good shepherds don't scatter sheep."

single in kind of the spokespersons, Judy Byrne a 17-year member of the parish and a mother of four, said, "We have thrown away too many good people who have just walked away."

Roland Singh, a former Eucharistic member, appeared with a gag in his entrance symbolizing "our lack of a voice here. There's enough turmoil in the world without having a pastor who scatters a parish. Imagine firing a man like Fergus Egan (the depos choir director who had serv 28 years). He's the salt of the earth."

onward the same day, flyers were handed gone out at the parish saying that "We have forfeited all trust and faith in our Cardinal, Bishop and Pastor." The prolonged simmering dispute over the alleged "rude disrespectful and inexorable behaviour" has now flared into make open anger against the area bishop John Boissonneau, who is accused in the flyer of "treating the parishioners with disdain. He maintains alone the clergy4~ave rights."

Archdiocesan spokesperson Suzanne Scorsone fielded media questions. Mr Scorsone maintained that the collection represented only a fraction of the parish.

...

Home