Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Ex-priest deemed ‘not suitable for ministry’
Monsignor Gregory J. Parlante served at Chadds Ford church until last year
A Delaware County priest who faced drug charges after a package containing illegal substances was delivered to the parish has been deemed “not suitable for ministry” by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The move against Monsignor Gregory J. Parlante, who served as pastor at St. Cornelius Church in Chadds Ford until spring 2017, was announced by the archdiocese Sunday night. The archdiocese also announced a similar “not suitable for ministry” tag against the Rev. Andrew McCormick, who had faced allegations of child abuse.
Both priests had been on administrative leave.
Parlante, 61, was charged in January with possession of methamphetamines, as well as stealing about $5,500 from the Sunday collections to pay for drugs he received through the mail, according to authorities and court documents. He had requested a leave of absence after parish staff discovered a package containing drugs that was mailed to him at the parish office.
Parlante entered into a probationary program for first-time, non-violent offenders. He was ordered to perform 64 hours of community service, pay back the money he stole from the parish and complete one year of probation.
The Archdiocesan Office of Investigations began an internal investigation in January after the criminal investigation had concluded and determined Parlante was no longer suitable for ministry after finding “substantiated violations of the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries.”
The Archdiocesan Professional Responsibilities Review Board also recommended to Archbishop Charles Chaput that Parlante was not suitable for ministry based on those violations, according to a release from the archdiocese.
Chaput accepted that recommendation and informed Parlante last week of the final decision. Parishioners at St. Cornelius were also told of the decision over the weekend.
“The circumstances of Monsignor Parlante’s absence have been painful ones for several months,” pastor Monsignor David Diamond told the parishioners in a statement provided by archdiocese spokesman Ken Gavin Monday.
“This is a sad moment for all of us as a family of God, but our parish will survive and our church will survive,” said Diamond. “I ask that you continue in your resolve to be disciples of Jesus and despite the darkness of
sin respond to His invitation and grace to build up the kingdom of God in our world.”
McCormick had faced trial twice in connection with the child abuse charge, but juries failed to reach a verdict in both instances. The archdiocese said McCormick will no longer be allowed to function as a priest and instead will “enter into a supervised life of prayer and penance” after a church investigation found “substantiated allegation” of sexual abuse of a minor.
McCormick had served at parishes in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia and Bridgeport.
Parlante’s arrest came seven months after Pennsylvania State Police executed
a search warrant involving a mailed delivery of suspected illegal drugs, later identified as methamphetamines, at the sprawling church campus. It was during the course of the investigation of the suspicious package that authorities learned Parlante “had been removing funds” from the church’s Sunday collection, according to the probable cause affidavit written by state Trooper John Hanosek.
According to the probable cause affidavit, church maintenance staff was cleaning out Parlante’s office on the morning of May 26, 2017, after the pastor had been removed from employment at the parish for medical reasons. When
they opened the top drawer of Parlante’s computer desk, they found a U.S. Postal package addressed to the priest.
Staffers opened the package and found “a clear plastic bag containing crystals,” later determined to be methamphetamine, the affidavit states.
A church volunteer interviewed as part of the investigation said she saw Parlante remove about $500 in cash from each Sunday collection from January of 2017 until his leave of absence in March of 2017, according to the affidavit. Parlante reportedly told the volunteer that he needed the money “for payment to substitute priests and altar boys,” the affidavit states.