THE outspoken Vineyards parish priest of Cessnock, Reverend James Lunn, has created Catholic controversy with his 'conscientious objection' to mandatory COVID vaccination, leading to fears of parishoners catching coronavirus at Mass.
The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has investigated Reverend Lunn and found his views and public statements were "contradictory" to public health and church guidance, but he was back performing Mass yesterday at St Joseph's Cessnock to a small group of parishioners.
He had spoken with the Newcastle Herald earlier in the week but declined to comment yesterday, saying the diocesan office had asked him not to.
This is not Reverend Lunn's first run-in with head office. Previous Maitland-Newcastle bishop Michael Malone wanted Reverend Lunn to resign in 2012 after he criticised the diocesan sale of the Mount Providence aged-care home, when at least some of the $4.2 million was confirmed as money to pay church child abuse settlements.
The diocese said yesterday that Reverend Lunn was not reappointed at Muswellbrook after the 2012 controversy and began at Cessnock in 2018 after being deemed "suitable" under Canon Law by Bishop Bill Wright.
The Herald reported in August last year that subsequent owners of the aged-care centre had sent eviction notices to residents and gone into liquidation just 30 months after taking over.
In the August 29 bulletin that began this latest controversy, Reverend Lunn wrote of "the very sad news that a 'jab' passport has been introduced into aged care facilities", which he likened to "a government bureaucracy dictating who could visit, and under what circumstances".
"I wonder if that is elder abuse," he wrote.
"I have no 'in principle' objection to vaccines and would have received a number during my life.
"I do, however, have a conscientious objection to mandated passports.
"For reasons of length I can't give all the explanation in this short space. I do briefly note: the state does not own our bodies and does not have the right to dictate what chemicals we put in our bodies.
"Traditionally this the argument against totalitarianism."
A place of worship can open to all members of the public. You must check in with the Service NSW app or provide your contact details to the occupier and follow the face mask rules.
Current NSW COVID rules for those not fully vaccinated
He said his second objection lay in his "current understanding that the vaccines have been produced using material sourced from human embryos (abortions) either in the design or manufacturing stage".
Responding to Herald questions, the diocese confirmed a complaint about the bulletin message but also two letters "commending Reverend Lunn on this matter".
Although Reverend Lunn's views were "contrary" to the advice of government and church leaders the diocese also said "the majority of vaccines have some remote connection to aborted foetuses" creating "a significant moral dimension to their use by members of the church which cannot be ignored".
The Herald was told some in the parish believed head office had "done nothing" to sort out the controversy, with fears that Reverend Lunn may unwittingly pass COVID to someone while performing Mass.
The diocese said that with Bishop Wright having tendered his resignation because of ill health - he is battling lung cancer - administration lay with the Vicar-General, Reverend Andrew Doohan.
The diocesan Chancellor, Reverend Matthew Muller, had attempted to "reach a solution at a local level through conciliation", and the matter was considered closed.
"It is recognised that some of the Catholic community are hesitant about the vaccine and that individuals have the right to decide if they will have (it)," the diocese said.
"However there is strong concern from diocesan leaders including the Vicar-General that statements by Reverend Lunn could cause confusion and fear and potentially put vulnerable people in the community at risk."
The diocese recognised restrictions on those not fully vaccinated but said "some people feel themselves unable to abide by those limitations and are prepared to accept the consequences of their moral position".
Reverend Lunn said he understood that some people in his parish were concerned, but NSW COVID rules allowed "all people" into places of worship regardless of their vaccination status, as long as they followed the face mask rules.
Reverend Lunn said he would soon be going on leave.
The diocese said this was pre-arranged and he would resume at the Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Abermain and Wollombi churches on his return.
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