Sunday, May 11, 2008

Cursing priest back at pulpit

A SENIOR Catholic priest who launched a racist and foul-mouthed tirade at skateboarders is back behind the pulpit.

Monsignor Geoff Baron was discovered during the week working at a Caroline Springs Catholic primary school.

The revelation came a week after a Melbourne principal requested her pupils' parents to switch off foul-mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsay.

The disgraced Monsignor was ordered on indefinite leave by Archbishop Denis Hart midway through last year after video footage emerged of him abusing skateboard teenagers outside Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral.

The former dean of the cathedral slipped back into Melbourne three months ago, according to Catholic Church sources, after spending time in Sydney.

During the week he was offering mass at Christ the Priest Catholic Primary School in Caroline Springs. It is understood he has also been carrying out pastoral duties, including visiting the elderly and frail.

While reluctant to about the incident, Monsignor Baron said it was good to be back at work.

"I'm a Catholic and I'm a happy Catholic with a lot of fulfilling pastoral work to do," he said.

The priest hit the headlines after his outburst - which has been viewed 500,000 times - first appeared on YouTube.

The footage shows Monsignor Baron yelling the F-word and C-word at the teens as well as hurling racial abuse such as "Go back to where you come from, you don't belong in Australia . . . little foreigner there, look at the slanty eyes, black hair".

The scandal drew a heated response.

At the time, Monsignor Baron apologised for his behaviour, but refused to apologise to the teenagers concerned.

News of the move prompted fresh outrage yesterday, with several church sources saying the priest should not have been allowed to return.

"What kind of example are we setting as a church?" one said.

"We are no better than the likes of Gordon Ramsay if we allow him continue to serve as a leader."

Vicar General Monsignor Les Tomlinson would not say if Monsignor Baron had had counselling or anger management courses.

"We do not respond to questions in relation to the health of a person," Monsignor Tomlinson said.

"Monsignor Baron freely resigned from his position as Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral last August.

He remains an active priest of the archdiocese available for appointment within the archdiocese."
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