Feds: Priest (AKA "Monsignor Meth") charged with selling meth

[moobu2]

A prominent priest who served as pastor of St. Augustine's Cathedral parish in Bridgeport and was a close aide to then-Bishop Edward Egan was indicted on charges he was part of a drug ring that conspired to sell methamphetamine.
Msgr. Kevin Wallin of Waterbury was arrested on a criminal complaint Jan. 3 after a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force.
Wallin, 61, resigned from his position at St. Augustine's, the main church of the Bridgeport diocese, in 2011, citing health and personal problems. He had previously served as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Danbury from 1996 to 2002, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1984.
Wallin was charged with six counts in the indictment Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Bridgeport and faces up to life in prison if he is convicted.

Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Feds-Priest-charged-with-selling-meth-4200164.php#ixzz2IGzUt4Ug

[cbayer]

1. There were concerns about him prior to the arrest. He went on sabbatical in

July, 2011 and had his privileges suspended in May 2012. He reportedly has not made any contact with the diocese since that time, despite their offers of help.

I guess priests also have human frailties and vulnerabilities.

[cbayer]

2. Just also want to note that the tag "Monsignor Meth" is yours and appears nowhere in the article.

[moobu2]

3. Do a Google search for "Monsignor Meth" and you will find about 1,120,000 results for it.

I didn't make that up. Here you go.

https://www.google.com/search?q=corresponding&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS509US509&aq=f&oq=corresponding&aqs=chrome.0.57j5j0l2j62l2.961&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS509US509&sclient=psy-ab&q=Monsignor+Meth&oq=Monsignor+Meth&gs_l=serp.12..0i8j0i8i30.1002608.1002608.0.1003929.1.1.0.0.0.0.192.192.0j1.1.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.2.Aww8RMijsHE&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41248874,d.eWU&fp=f6bd8b83f9427bdd&biw=1600&bih=775

[cbayer]

4. Ok, you didn't originate it. Not to be persnickety, but if you google it with quotes

you get only 97 hits because the two words appear separately in many, many articles.

Sorry about that. I accused you wrongly.

[dimbear]

5. Does this guy seem a little daring for a pastor in your book?

"While pastor of St. Augustine's, sources said he often disappeared for days at a time; and rectory personnel became concerned and notified diocese officials when Wallin, sometimes dressed as a woman, would entertain odd-looking men, some who were also dressed in women's clothing and engaging in sex acts."

To see this article, click the link in the OP and then open the sidebar tagged 'crossdressing priest.....' (This would appear to be a possible source of the tag 'Monsignor Meth.')

direct link:

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Sources-Cross-dressing-meth-priest-liked-sex-in-4203841.php

[moobu2]

6. Holy meth dealin money lauderin cross dressin porno shop ownin priest.

wow.

[dimbear]

7. Jesus Malverde, intercede for me now. n/t

[brooklynite]

8. You can't say the Church wasn't responsive...

Albany Times-Union

Monsignor Kevin Wallin was relieved of his duties in May, but the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport had continued to pay him a stipend until his Jan. 3 arrest -- a day he was planning to fly to London on vacation.

[cbayer]

9. It sounds like he might have become seriously ill.

Paying him his stipend after his suspension may have kept him on the insurance or otherwise given him access to services he couldn't otherwise get.

Do you think they should have just completely cut him off?

[brooklynite]

10. I, perhaps, wouldn't have given him a suspension...

...besides, if they wanted to keep him on the payroll, whats wrong with the time-honored tradition of farming him out to another Diocese?

[cbayer]

11. I take it you are being sarcastic.

He apparently was psychiatrically assessed, but did not or would not follow up, so they suspended him. His behavior was bizarre and reportedly very uncharacteristic for him.

Sounds to me like they did what they needed to do - Offered him help and remained available to help him, but took him out of circulation in regards to his priesthood.

Again I ask, what else should they have done?

[dimbear]

12. Those who received important doctrinally binding services from Wallin, for instance baptism or

extreme unction, should probably apply for an upgrade or refund.

[47of74]

13. I think in both cases that would be In persona Christi

That's what the church uses to say that no matter what the priests do otherwise their duties are still valid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_persona_Christi

[rug]

14. I didn't know you were a Donatist.

[dimbear]

15. The question, of course, is whether or not Wallin ever was a priest. To be so he had to take

his vows without reservation, which seems paradoxical in view of the sequel.


Non est jam dicere, "Ut populus, sic sacerdos"; quia nec si populus, ut sacerdos. St. Bernard of Clairvaux