Priest suspended indefinitely in war of words over Gaza

BISHOP CLIVE Harvey has announced the “immediate and indefinite” suspension of a Roman Catholic priest after he failed to stop making contentious remarks regarding the ongoing war in the Gaza between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group as well as criticising the Church.

Bishop Harvey said that the suspension of Father Gerard Paul took effect on April 4 following the very public showdown between him and the priest.

“The Church has rules, clear expectations, and protections for the People of God enshrined in the Code of Canon Law and the ordinary teaching of popes and bishops,” said the Bishop of the Diocese of St George’s in a statement.

He added, “When Fr Paul said, ‘I have no regrets, and I will do it again’, he put himself beyond review and fraternal correction.”

The controversy began on March 27, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and subsequent statements made by Father Paul on various media platforms in which he accused the church here of not condemning the situation in Gaza.

Father Paul said at a recent clergy retreat that the situation was not even mentioned or addressed.

“I call upon the Church today to get its freedom and to get its voice and speak up for justice,” the priest said, while calling the Gaza war a ‘wholesale slaughter ’of Palestinians and Muslims.

“We cannot rightly ever preach the Gospel if we do not stand for justice. It’s time the Catholic Church stands for justice,” the Grenada- born Father Paul said.

But the Trinidad-born Bishop Harvey later told a church service that he was inclined to say nothing because the “Eucharist is not a place to divide us.

“We all stand up for justice. How we stand up for justice depends on our insights, how we see things. It is not true to say that the clergy of this diocese went on a retreat and did not think about Gaza. That is just not true, and I want that to be made clear. I don’t hold Father Gerry accountable for what he does not know. He was not there every day, every hour, every Mass at the retreat as far as I remember.”

In an update on Monday, Bishop Harvey said that Roman Catholic priest Father Paul had “not been suspended because of what he had said about Gaza” but for his continued “lack of respect” for the church and his “pronouncements that often stray from the truth”..

“I wish to state…Father Gerard Paul had not been suspended because of what he said about Gaza. His sentiments have been echoed by many in and out of the Catholic Church. The Church is very concerned and will continue to speak out about the unjust situations in the world, including Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti and Sudan, ”Bishop Harvey said in a video statement.

Bishop Harvey said the suspension of a priest from ministry “is not be to confused with dismissal from the priesthood. Suspension, no matter how long it may be is always with a view to fraternal correction.