A PARISH priest who lied to his flock about having cancer used money they gave him to help pay for a trip to Lourdes for a "miracle cure". When Father Richard Abourjaily's lies about having prostate cancer were uncovered he was condemned as "delusional" by the head of the Catholic Church, Cardinal George Pell, and suspended from his duties at All Hallows Parish Church at Five Dock in Sydney's inner west.
Parishioners have been left bewildered and hurt by the actions of the 29-year-old priest they welcomed into their hearts and homes when he was ordained last year.
Parishioner Pina Biazzo, whose nieces were in Father Abourjaily's Youth Alive group, said: "We all believed he had prostate cancer.
"We just thought he was having a tough time and that he wasn't going to make it. Everyone loved him."
When Father Abourjaily was ordained, he was pictured on the front page of The Catholic Weekly and was quoted as saying that he wanted to show "the truth and beauty of our faith" and prayed "for all the people I'll come into contact with during my life as a priest".
His enthusiasm won over the young people at All Hallows. He still features prominently on the Youth Alive Facebook page as "the one and only Fr Rich … he is busy promoting World Youth Day among us and is really cool."
Distressed parishioners rallied to support Father Abourjaily when they heard he had prostate cancer and was looking for a religious miracle to beat the illness.
Mrs Biazzo said: "It was a bit of a shock to me that he wasn't really that ill at all. Everyone was a little bit upset when they found he was lying."
"I think people just got upset because there was money involved."
When Father Abourjaily was ordained, parishioners, friends and family all followed Catholic tradition and presented him with gifts of money. A few months later, he is understood to have used some of this money to help pay for his trip to seek a "cure" at Lourdes in France.
All Hallows parish priest Father Bob Hayes broke the news of Father Abourjaily's deception at Sunday Mass a few weeks ago and apologised to the congregation.
Father Hayes said: "I don't want to talk about it. I don't want people digging up old dirt."
But at the parish annual general meeting two weeks ago he said: "Last year became an eventful year for our community with the dismissal from the parish and subsequent suspension from all priestly activities of Father Abourjaily due to his false claims of illness.
"It has been a regrettable experience for many who grew close to him, especially the young people he endeared himself to during his time with us.
"At this time, I am not aware of his situation within the archdiocese except to say he is still suspended from all duties."
At his Punchbowl home, Father Abourjaily said: "I have nothing to say. You have to talk to the chancery."
Privately, he has confided that the prostate cancer rumour snowballed because he was too embarrassed to admit he had a prostate problem that could be mistakenly linked to a sexually transmitted disease.
Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, said: "Father Abourjaily is not functioning as a Catholic priest because of his delusional statements and behaviour.
"I regret this situation and hope he soon returns to full health.
"As is customary in these situations, he is being provided for in a basic way."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce