The Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese has removed a Windsor County pastor who fought calls by the state’s largest religious denomination for Covid-19 vaccinations, masks and other pandemic precautions.
Rev. Peter Williams is no longer head of Holy Family Parish of Springfield and neighboring Chester, Bishop Christopher Coyne informed church members in a public letter this week.
“Please know that I did not make this decision lightly nor with any personal feelings in the matter,” Coyne wrote. “My hope was that this situation could have been reconciled privately, but unfortunately it only escalated, causing much angst within the parish.”
Williams, who has led his church since 2003, sparked headlines in January when he posted a YouTube video questioning the diocese’s call for all clergy to get vaccinated or, if not, wear a mask and undergo regular testing to curb transmission of the coronavirus.
“Being more of the ilk of a patriot,” the pastor said in a 10-minute video, “I balk at any incursion into my rights as a human being and certainly a U.S. citizen.”
The diocese has spent the winter declining comment, it said, “in order to protect the good name and reputation of all involved” — all while Williams’ video has logged more than 17,000 views, 40 times the average 400 views for most Holy Family Mass broadcasts on its YouTube channel.
Williams, at the same time, hired a lawyer.
“I have no intention of resigning as pastor, because that is my job,” the priest said before posting a second video last month reiterating his position.
In response, Coyne released a letter this week announcing Williams’ removal “for his serious disobedience and disrespect.”
“I apologize for the length of time it has taken to reach this decision since Father Williams first made this matter public,” the bishop wrote. “I wanted to make sure that my decision was fair and that church law in this matter was followed so as not to infringe on Father Williams’s canonical rights.”
Coyne noted he was pulling the pastor for not obeying orders and spreading “a great deal of misinformation” that “has caused much division and concern.”
Pope Francis, who is vaccinated, has encouraged Catholics to follow suit as “an act of love.” The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stressed the need for a variety of pandemic safeguards.
“We need priests and so there’s no plus side for the diocese to do this, but I had to do it eventually for the protection of people,” Coyne told McClatchy News, one of several national outlets that have reported about Williams.
The pastor’s example has called many to question whether Catholics can disregard the church’s teachings on other subjects, such as sexuality.
“A priest promises obedience to the bishop at ordination,” one commenter posted on social media. “If the priest can just disobey, why can’t the laity as well?”
The diocese is assigning a temporary administrator for Holy Family Parish until it can appoint a permanent replacement. In the meantime, Coyne has invited Williams to stay at the bishop’s residence in Burlington, although the priest couldn’t be reached Thursday and hasn’t released a public statement.
“My fervent prayer is that Father Williams and I can still mend our relationship as priest and bishop and together continue our ministry,” Coyne wrote.
