St Mary's South Brisbane churchgoer, Richard Stokes, has asked police to press charges against parish priest Fr Peter Kennedy after a mobile phone camera was knocked from his hand at a baptism yesterday. Mr Stokes has written to the Vatican and to Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby in a campaign to have St Mary's and Fr Kennedy, follow official protocols or be removed from the church, The Australian reports.
Yesterday, after travelling 40 minutes from his home in Caboolture to attend Sunday Mass at St Mary's, Mr Stokes stayed behind to watch some baptisms, which have brought the church into controversy on previous occasions.
Incensed that a priest was performing baptisms in casual clothes, and not his vestments, Mr Stokes positioned himself to take a photo on his mobile phone, whereupon Fr Kennedy allegedly knocked the phone from his hand, The Australian says.
Fr Kennedy, who was not performing the baptisms but has had previous encounters with Mr Stokes, would not comment on the incident yesterday.
Mr Stokes, who was not hurt and put his phone back together, said: "I saw a blur out of the corner of my eye and then bang, the mobile phone was knocked out of my hand and on to the ground," Mr Stokes said.
"It all happened so quickly."
Fr Kennedy's supporters say Mr Stokes was being deliberately provocative and ignored pleas by parishioners and the children's families not to cause trouble.
After being hustled out of the church, and admonished by parishioners, Mr Stokes and his supporters went to a nearby police station where they made an assault complaint and asked that charges be laid.
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(Source: CHN)