Problems with a Bishop

As a priest I promise to obey my "ordinary" that is "Bishop or Archbishop". I was appointed to be the parish priest of Cooktown in tropical Far North Queensland Australia. It was 3 days drive from Sydney and when I arrived in the town I discovered that parishioners had been trying to contact me telling not to come. Furthermore the Bishop had visited the church house and taken all the bed linen and pillows as well as all the printed minutes of Church meetings held by the previous priest. As I began my priestly journey in the place I felt betrayed by the person who I had promised to obey as part of my ordination. On our first holiday we installed locks to the house to keep the Bishop out because we were warned that he would visit the Church house whenever the priest was away on holidays. After about two years in the job I realized that the bishop had " gone troppo". After discussion with other priests I decided to vote against the financial report of the Diocese which would mean the Bishop would lose his position. The bishop visited the parish for his last time and told me I would never get a job as priest in any Anglican or Roman Catholic church in Australia. Imagine my surprise when staying with the Bishop of the Northern Territory in Darwin to read my name listed as one of the priests who caused him to lose his position- a very good example of being utterly estranged. He has not spoken to me since that occasion of the visit to the parish.

— Bazza F