Priest leaves after complaints

Popular assistant parish priest Fr Tony McCarthy has left Woy Woy just nine months after he was appointed to the parish, after complaints were made to the Bishop's Office.

The Catholic Diocese has confirmed that the bishop, Rev David Walker, has decided "not to renew the position of assistant priest ... at present".

However, a petition with more than 1000 signatures has been collected in an attempt to keep Fr Tony at Woy Woy.

Supporters of the petition said Fr Tony was popular in the local parish, was approachable and was renowned for telling jokes.

They planned to present the petition to Broken Bay Diocese Bishop, Rev David Walker, last Sunday, June 13, at Sacred Heart church in Umina.

A statement released by the Diocese of Broken Bay said that Fr Anthony McCarthy was appointed as assistant priest to the Catholic Parish of St John the Baptist, Woy Woy, for an initial period of six months, from September 1 last year.

"His appointment was undertaken with the knowledge that a review of the position would take place at the end of this period," the statement read.

"The review has now been undertaken, and a decision made by the Bishop of the Diocese of Broken Bay, Most Rev David Walker DD, not to renew the position of assistant priest in the Parish of Woy Woy at present.

"The Bishop's Office has received several letters and a petition from concerned parishioners regarding information given by Fr McCarthy during Sunday Masses at Woy Woy last weekend.

"All parishioner concerns will be duly acknowledged and taken into account," it stated.

Alison Branley, June 1