Milwaukee's Catholic Archbishop is speaking out for the first time about a priest charged with cocaine possession. Archbishop Timothy Dolan says Fr. Len Van Vlaenderen of Saint John Vianney Parish in Brookfield is a priest in crisis, and must step down from his role as the church's pastor.
Fr. Van Vlaenderen was arrested over the weekend.
His arrest report says St. Francis police found him unconscious and unresponsive inside his car on Saturday.
It also says Fr. Van Vlaenderen admitted to being "under the influence of cocaine and addicted to drugs."
Archbishop Dolan says he was saddened to learn that another church leader was in the news for the wrong reason, and needs the community's prayers and support.
Fr. Van Vlaenderen's struggles with depression are well known in the Archdiocese. He recently returned from a long medical leave.
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