From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Brookfield and former priest-secretary to now-retired Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, was charged Tuesday in Milwaukee County with misdemeanor possession of cocaine.
Father Leonard Van Vlaenderen, 49, was arrested by St. Francis police after they got a report about 6:20 p.m. Saturday of a suspicious car in the parking lot of a vacant commercial building in the 3500 block of E. Lunham Ave., said St. Francis Police Chief Brian Kaebisch.
The responding officer found Van Vlaenderen alone in an impaired condition and, concerned about his health, called for medical assistance. Tire tracks indicated that the car had been driven on the sidewalk for at least one block before stopping, Kaebisch said.
Searching Van Vlaenderen, the officer found two clear plastic bags in a front pants pocket. Each contained a yellowish-white rock that turned out to be crack cocaine weighing a combined total of 4.7 grams, according to Kaebisch and the criminal complaint.
Van Vlaenderen told the arresting officer that he was under the influence of cocaine and that the cocaine that was found on him was not for delivery, the criminal complaint says.
If convicted, Van Vlaenderen faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. He made his first court appearance Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty. He is free on $250 bail.
He's been at St. John Vianney, one of the largest parishes in the 10-county archdiocese with more than 7,900 registered parishioners, since mid-2002, said Kathleen Hohl, archdiocesan spokeswoman. The archdiocese was taking steps to work with Van Vlaenderen on health-related issues and to arrange for the pastoral care of St. John Vianney Parish, she said.
The arrest and charges startled parishioners, though it was widely known that Van Vlaenderen had struggled with personal issues. He had returned to the parish in September after about a nine-month leave of absence for what parish leaders and other parish members understood to be mental health reasons, said Frank Pasternak, of Brookfield, a member of the parish council.
Obviously, Fr. Len has been struggling with personal issues.
It's terribly sad.
In a letter to parishioners issued Tuesday, Archbishop Timothy Dolan said that Van Vlaenderen will need to step down from his post.
"Last January, after receiving various reports of concern for Father Len's health from parishioners and others, I insisted that Father Len take a health leave from the parish. He himself admitted to a variety of health-related struggles and spent the next seven months under the care of health professionals. Last August, with assurances from his doctors that he was ready to return to full-time ministry, I allowed him to resume his pastorate. Now, with this news, it is clear that Father Len will need to step down as pastor and cooperate fully with the law," the letter says.
I can hear the Catholic-bashers chuckling right now.
Ooooh. Another scandal. A crackhead priest.
I don't think Catholic priests have cornered the market on depression and addiction. People from all walks of life are afflicted with those conditions.
Guess what?
Priests are human beings. It's true. They're human.
Human beings aren't perfect. Priests have challenges just like everyone else.
Father Len and the parishioners of St. John Vianney are in my prayers, for peace and healing as they prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:34-40)
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