Strange Happenings in My Former Diocese

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Woman escorted from her church
Police called after she was told not to come; she wants documents

BY ALBERTA LINDSEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

May 31, 2006

RELATED: Police Beat

A Hopewell woman, a vocal critic of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, was escorted by police from her parish church over the weekend after she refused to leave.

Lynn Allgeier, 58, who has attended St. James Catholic Church in Hopewell for eight years, has tried to get the diocese and her parish to make their financial records available for inspection by the laity. She also wants to read the personnel file of Saint James' pastor, the Rev. Frank L. Wiggins Jr.

"They wouldn't give me a line-by-line budget showing how money is spent. I want that, and I want to know the history of the priest," Allgeier said.

William Etherington, an attorney for the diocese, said Allgeier has been disruptive.

"She accuses people of things that are not true and demands she be able to interview the pastor. The pastor has said, 'I don't want you here.' And he has the right to say that."

Allgeier was sent a certified letter by an attorney in Etherington's office telling Allgeier she is no longer welcome on any property belonging to St. James Catholic Church.

"Should you enter these premises, you will be considered a trespasser and subject to arrest," said the letter, dated May 22 and signed by Leslie A. Winneberger.

Allgeier went to the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday and was asked to leave. When she refused, the police were called, and she was escorted off church property, Allgeier said.

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