LACROSSE, Wis. – A politically right-wing priest who’s castigated Democrats as hell-bound has been ordered to leave the pulpit. The Catholic bishop of LaCrosse, Patrick Callahan, issued a decree that Father James Altman “must refrain from exercising the function of pastor.” Altman has built a national following online for his views from his base at St. James the Less church in north LaCrosse. The action capped a running battle in which Altman escalated challenges to the bishop and even raised $700,000 online for a canon lawyer to fight to keep his role at St. James.
Verbatim
Callahan, extracted from a a third-person statement from the diocese: “Bishop William Patrick Callahan and his diocesan representatives have spent over a year, prayerfully and fraternally, working toward a resolution related to ongoing public and ecclesial concerns of the ministry of Father James Altman. The obligation of a Bishop is to ensure that all who serve the faithful are able to do so while unifying and building the Body of Christ. Bishop William Patrick Callahan, in accordance with the norms of canon law, has issued a decree for the removal of Father Altman as pastor of St. James the Less Parish. The Decree is effective immediately. Father Altman, must refrain from exercising the function of pastor. The Diocese of La Crosse will be working over the next weeks to arrange for the ongoing pastoral care of the parishioners of the Parish.”
Bishop. Action came after weeks, indeed months, of “prayerful and ecclesiastic” consideration. Says removal is consistent “with the norms of canon law.”