Saturday, May 31

A row in Westchester, NY about a pastor's transfer

In an unusual act of defiance, a Roman Catholic pastor in Westchester County has publicly criticized Cardinal Edward M. Egan for transferring him to another parish, saying the cardinal was ignoring the wishes of parishioners and acting out of personal animosity.The pastor, the Rev. James E. Borstelmann, 61, of St. Joseph's parish in Croton Falls, said in interviews last week that he had refused the transfer to a church on Staten Island and was even thinking of moving to another diocese, under a bishop who was "more pastoral than bullying."