Oh boy. This is not good. Please make it stop. The former bishop of the Diocese of El Paso Armando Ochoa is filing legal action against a parish priest, claiming a misappropriation of funds.

Colleen Hammond has the entire letter and you’re definitely going to want to read it at her site. It’s a pretty severe accusation.

But then not to be outdone, the accused priest, Fr. Michael Rodríguez, then lobs some serious accusations back. Here’s a piece of what he had to say:

I am convinced that the real reason for my former bishop’s actions against me is due to my defense of the Catholic Church’s teaching with regard to homosexuality as well as my adherence to the Roman Liturgy of 1962. If necessary, I will present prodigious evidence to support this contention. I will continue to do my best to be a good and holy priest, no matter the cost. I will continue to proclaim and teach the truths of the Roman Catholic Church, especially in the area of sexual morality, no matter the cost. I will continue to adhere to the Ancient Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, no matter the cost.

This is likely going to get very ugly before it gets better. Somebody please stop this.

I don’t know who’s right. I have no way of knowing. But this hurts a lot more people than the two of them.

Whoever is right, the Church loses.

Colleen Hammond has a lot more details. Please check it out.