Catholic Priest Says Drug-Related Arrest Was ‘Gift From God’

Father Michael Gary Kinzer on Thursday called his arrest on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs for sale “a gift from God.”

The 48-year-old priest, who was subsequently removed as pastor of St. Barbara Church in Santa Ana, offered no explanation for the five bags of powdered methamphetamine that police said they found in his car May 1.

“Irrational, self-destructive acts are beyond explanation,” he said. But as a result of the incident, he said, “I’m going to seek treatment for the dark side I wasn’t in touch with and live in the light.”

Kinzer spoke by telephone from his father’s home at Leisure World in Seal Beach. He said he was preparing to leave for a treatment center, not run by the Catholic Church, at an undisclosed location. The priest said that he did not anticipate ever returning to his former position in Santa Ana but that he hoped he would be allowed to return to church service after his treatment.

Of parishioners who knew him as “Father Gary,” he said: “I know there’s got to be shock, hurt and surprise. I have tremendous love for them and hope they pray for me.”

Kinzer was stopped by Los Angeles police about 10 p.m. on May 1 after he had stopped his car near a fire hydrant in Hollywood, Police Cmdr. William Booth said. Kinzer told police that his driver’s license was in a traveling bag in the back seat of his car. Fearing there might be a weapon in the bag, officers asked to search it, Booth said. There they found five plastic bags containing white powder, drug paraphernalia and $3,600 in cash.

Kinzer was held overnight on $5,000 bail. No charges were filed against Kinzer because the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office decided that the officers did not have “reasonable cause” to search Kinzer’s car.

Meanwhile, parishioners said they felt betrayed by church authorities who had told them only that Father Kinzer needed a rest. One priest said he was told that Kinzer was being treated for an ulcer.

Parishioner Patrick White said that an associate priest read a statement to churchgoers at Saturday evening Mass saying that Kinzer was under a doctor’s care for complete fatigue and that he should not be disturbed. White said that church members were told not to ask any questions.

“I feel betrayed by the bishop’s office,” White said. “I know the whole parish feels betrayed. They haven’t come out with the truth, the facts as to what happened with Father Gary.

“This coming Sunday, we’ll have a lot of questions. Hopefully, we’ll get some answers.”

Father John McAndrew, a recovering alcoholic and an associate priest at St. Irenaeus Church in Cypress, said the church is still struggling with a policy on dealing with chemical dependency among clergy.

McAndrew said he believes it is particularly difficult for those with “entrenched religious beliefs” to overcome denial of alcoholism or drug use.

“The only recovery I’m aware of is based on spiritual principles. And people well versed in spiritual principles have a hard time believing their spiritual principles are wrong.”

Kinzer, described by acquaintances as “intense,” said that any hard-working priest leads a stressful life. He said there was “great stress” at St. Barbara Church, a multi-ethnic parish of 2,800 families that is the largest Catholic congregation in Santa Ana.

Calling himself “fragile, frightened and vulnerable,” Kinzer said that he was anxious to “get on with being whole” and trying hard to be a man of faith.

While his problems might be difficult for the members of his parish to accept, he said, “I hope my example of faith and recovery will be helpful.”