Fr Kevin Lee was not sacked from his ministry for getting married but left of his own accord, said Bishop Anthony Fisher in a homily on the weekend, which was published on the Diocese of Parramatta website.
"I want to assure you that, contrary to the scuttlebutt, no punitive action has been taken by the Diocese of Parramatta against Fr Kevin. He has not been excommunicated. He has not been evicted," Bishop Fisher said in his homily to Fr Lee's former congregation at the Padre Pio Glenmore Park parish, in Sydney's west.
"He has refused to take calls from me and the diocesan office, and has not communicated his intentions to the Church except through the media. So I was as shocked as you were and knew as little about all this when it happened."
"Like many of you, I am concerned for Kevin’s welfare and now that of his wife and for all of those who have been affected by his actions over the past few days. We all know that Church law and Catholic tradition make it impossible for Kevin to remain as Parish Priest if he has entered into a marriage."
"But he has left his ministry and his presbytery of his own accord."