Anyone capable of doing a Google search will find the Archdiocese of Philadelphia press release announcing the removal of three priests is not accurate. The Jan. 13, 2019 press release can be read here.
While we wait for the Archdiocese to release the true facts, we’ll take a closer look at one removed priest. Father John Meyers resigned his position as pastor of St. Martin of Tours parish for health reasons in January 2017 and was assigned as a parochial vicar to St. Anthony of Padua parish. Just a few months later in June of 2017 he was assigned as Rector pro tem of the Malvern Retreat House. Somehow, even though Meyers needed to resign from his parish just a few months earlier due to health reasons, he was able to take on the position as rector of the largest retreat house in the country.
Even more interesting is that Meyers was replacing the former rector of the retreat house who needed to step down due to his own health issues. Why would the Archdiocese replace him with Meyers, who had his own “health issues?”
Within a few months Meyers went from a pastor, to a parochial vicar, to the rector of a retreat house. We have repeatedly emailed John Delaney, Delegate of Investigations for the Archdiocese of Philadelpha, asking him to clarify when the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor involving Meyers was received by the Archdiocese. No answer.
Did the Archdiocese allow Meyers to act in the role of rector of the Malvern Retreat House while an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was being investigated? Many Archdiocesan students attend the overnight Kairos retreats at Malvern Retreat. Is this a new low?
Here’s another other interesting twist. When Meyers resigned from St. Martin of Tours parish in January 2017, he was replaced by the recently removed Father Armand Garcia. Garcia is on administrative leave after police searched the parish rectory last year. He is under investigation for possible misconduct with minors. We broke that story after we were tipped off that Garcia was removed from the parish. (Keep those tips coming please!) An announcement was made at the parish but the Archdiocese did not issue a statement or notification of Garcia’s past assignments.
Folks, you simply can’t make this stuff up. We will post the corrected press release from the Archdiocese when it becomes available. But don’t hold your breath.
Kathy It is totally an outrage! The Malvern Retreat website states “We invite teens and young people of all ages to journey to Malvern Retreat House, including: Pre-teens, Teens, Students and 20- somethings.”
The story in this article is exactly why “health issues” has come to mean nothing short of deception.
They also have listed family retreats. This is very upsetting all I can think of is the terribly tragic story of Survivors’s wife’s husband.
This really makes me thing The AD’s definition of “Health Reason” has 2 meanings in their Handbook! If Mental Health is included under “Health Reasons” this would Tag all abusive clergy sent for inpatient treatment. Health Reasons is very “Broad” and could technically mean anything! Just a thought!
Chris it seems to me you might be right. They also have substance abuse and recovery programs of a few different kinds at Malvern. Its insanity having a “Mentally ill” priest ministering to these people.
Just give the predator the most vulnerable to prey on……………
We have no idea if the health issue was physical or mental health but to leave a parish in January..a mid year reassignment which isn’t common, and then to end up as the rector of the largest retreat house in the U.S. just a few months later makes no sense…on paper. IF the Archdiocese allowed him to be at Malvern Retreat for even one day after receiving the allegation then any lay staff at the Archdiocese who knew of this need to take a long hard look in the mirror…
I agree Kathy.
Kathy, if you were not following these incomplete, albeit dishonest, releases from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Catholics in this diocese would never hear the truth. Thank you for your continued diligence.
What a mess. My sympathies. Love from Australią.