The Catholic priest who was relieved of his duties in February amid allegations that he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of a parishioner's money was reinstated Friday.The Rev. William Kenny had been relieved of his duties as pastor of Christ the King Catholic Community by the Diocese of Las Vegas on Feb. 9.
When he walked into the church, on Torrey Pines Drive near Tropicana Avenue, to celebrate the 5 p.m. Mass Sunday, many of the congregants cheered loudly.
During his sermon, he told the congregants, "It's been an awesome weekend. I was reinstated on Friday afternoon at about 2 o'clock, and I raced to the office here. Broke a couple of speed limits."
"I'm a priest again. Thanks so much," he said.
Kenny declined to speak with the Review-Journal after the Mass.
The Diocese of Las Vegas relieved Kenny of his duties in February "to deal with personal issues," a church spokeswoman said at the time.
In a statement Monday, the diocese confirmed that Kenny's "sacramental faculties have been restored."
"The issues surrounding Father Kenny's suspension have been resolved with certain guidelines and parameters for Father Kenny going forward," the Rev. Kevin McAuliff, vicar general for the diocese, said in the statement. "He is meeting these obligations and as such we have reinstated his sacramental duties."
Karen Wilkinson, a church spokeswoman who works for Rogich Communications, said the diocese could not elaborate on the "guidelines and parameters" that had been placed on Kenny.
"It's a personnel matter, and they can't elaborate any more than they already have," Wilkinson said.
Kenny also told parishioners Sunday that he would be going on a three-week retreat after Easter.
Wilkinson said the diocese would not comment on the retreat.
The church relieved Kenny of his duties the same week the Review-Journal asked the diocese about a sealed June 2006 District Court case filed by a longtime Christ the King parishioner and worker, Frances Kochansky, 89.
The lawsuit centered on allegations that Kenny tried to take control of Kochansky's finances in 1996 and spent more than $300,000 of her money.
Family members said Kenny confessed to them in 2006 that he had taken Kochansky's money.
He also apologized to the family in a letter that the Review-Journal obtained.
"I apologize for all that I have done to create this matter," the letter said. "You don't deserve such a situation and neither does Frances."
He promised to repay the money, but a family member of Kochansky said he never made an attempt to repay them. The family took Kenny to court, where the case was sealed and settled last year.
Parishioners greeted Kenny with hugs and pats on the back after Sunday's sermon. One woman yelled, "It's good to have you back," as she walked away.
"He was given a second chance," parishioner Marissa Valdez said. "You have to forgive."
"He's a good man and a wonderful priest," said Jeri Ross, another parishioner. "It's just like his sermon said: Everyone sins."
During his sermon, Kenny brought up the story of the Bible in which the Pharisees, in an effort to discredit Jesus, brought a woman accused of adultery to him. They then told him that adultery is punishable by stoning. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," Jesus told them.
But not all parishioners were pleased.
One, who did not want his name used, said he was considering leaving the church.
He said he attended Mass Sunday but did not hear Kenny apologize or admit to taking the money.
"I definitely need to get my family into a different environment," the man said.
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