The Nation : Separatist Black Priest Loses Diocese Job

A black priest who wants to form a separate black Catholic church said he has been forbidden to celebrate Mass or other church rites and fired from his job as Washington archdiocesan evangelist. Father George Stallings said he received notice in letters from Cardinal James Hickey of the District of Columbia Archdiocese. Stallings has not received any communication directly from the Vatican, said an associate who asked not to be identified. Charging the church with ignoring the “spiritual and cultural needs” of black parishioners, Stallings last week announced plans to form a new black congregation.