News

Bishop, deacon meet with Freedom parish

By Renae Bauer
Communications Department

Bp. David Zubik last week promised to help bring healing to St. Nicholas Parish in Freedom after the dismissal last month of the parish school's longtime principal.

Leaders of both St. Nicholas Parish in Freedom and the Diocese of Green Bay met the afternoon of Nov. 2 to discuss the state of the parish, its school and the process in which the school administrator had been dismissed three weeks earlier.

In what Bp. Zubik described as a "cordial, respectful, open and honest discussion," he and Dcn. Timothy Reilly, diocesan Director of Administration, met with parish leaders for about two hours. During their time together Dcn. Reilly extended an apology to the parish community.

"The Diocese of Green Bay gave Fr. John Schuetze (pastor of St. Nicholas) incomplete advice" regarding the process of handling the dismissal of Phyllis Techlin, Dcn. Reilly said.

He assured the leaders that steps have been taken to correct the procedural problems and announced that Techlin had until Nov. 9 to notify the diocese of whether she intends to participate in an appeal process contesting her termination.

The diocese's Education Personnel Handbook says the diocesan Board of Catholic Education hears an appeal. Only the pastor and the school administrator are allowed to present documents and give testimony before the board.

Dcn. Reilly attempted to dispel rumors about why Techlin was dismissed. Her "termination was not the result of anything that was illegal, immoral, or any sort of malfeasance," he said.

Parishioners invited Bp. Zubik and Dcn. Reilly to attend a meeting that evening with school parents, which they accepted. At that meeting, they restated the apology and dispelled rumors about the terms of Techlin's dismissal.

Bp. Zubik said he has received numerous letters and e-mails about the situation in Freedom. While some people have stated their support for Techlin, others have stated their support of Fr. Schuetze's decision, Bp. Zubik said.

"While we want to acknowledge and be sensitive to the people who are hurting, we also want to help as best we can to bring healing to this parish community," Bp Zubik said.