THE saga of the skateboarders and the dean that was prime-time viewing on YouTube has ended ignominiously for the prelate.Geoff Baron has resigned as dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, victim of what church leaders say was entrapment.
Father Baron, who remains a priest, has left Melbourne on an indefinite period of rest and relaxation, and no suggestions have been made about his future role, according to Catholic Vicar-General Les Tomlinson.
The dean's position became untenable when a video was posted on the YouTube website in which he confronted skateboarders at the cathedral.
Taunted, spat at and pushed by the skateboarders, the dean called them "f-----g c---s", speaking to one about "the sperm of all these boys that f--- you" and asking another: "How's your arsehole from being f----d by all these c---s?". He also made racial references.
Monsignor Tomlinson admitted last night that the dean's behaviour had embarrassed the church, but he criticised the skateboarders for goading the dean.
"That was even entrapment, plus their disregard, the damage they caused, the desecration of a sacred site," he said.
He said the dean received considerable support as well as criticism.
"When I was in Geoff's office before he left he had a thick pile of cards and emails on his desk. Most were supportive."
Monsignor Tomlinson said some people acknowledged how intimidating Father Baron's situation was when he confronted the group of skateboarders, while others could not concede that at all.
The former dean apologised on radio after the video was posted, saying "something snapped" inside him.
"I wish I could take it all back but I can't. I've got to live with the consequences," he said.
Father Gerard Johnson from Kyneton will be installed as the new dean on Wednesday next week, to Monsignor Tomlinson's relief.
A former dean himself, Monsignor Tomlinson has been acting as dean and vicar-general.
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