Thursday, June 01, 2000
Stabbed priest sees auxiliary bishop
Mentrup's school post not major issue
By Janet C. Wetzel
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — The Rev. Charles “Chuck” Mentrup” met for 90 minutes Wednesday with the archdiocese's auxiliary bishop to discuss whether the priest's recent stabbing might affect his ministry, church officials said.
No decisions were made during the meeting between the Fenwick High School principal and the Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel, an archdiocesan spokesman said.
“They just want to take a look at where the priest is in his ministry after an ordeal like this,” said Dan Andriacco, spokesman for the Arch diocese of Cincinnati.
“Has anything happened as a result of this to cause him or the bishop to rethink his ministry? The answer is, probably no. But it's something they need to take a look at.”
On May 24, authorities dropped charges against Marcus Finefrock, 25, of Co lumbus, a recent law school graduate. He had pleaded not guilty to a charge of felonious assault in the stabbing of Father Mentrup at his home early on May 5.
Father Mentrup, who is also associate pastor of the Church of the Incarnation in Centerville, refused to testify against Mr. Finefrock because he said he was hearing his former student's confession at the time.
Authorities say Father Mentrup and Mr. Finefrock had spent the evening before the stabbing at Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Until now, no one from the archdiocese had had a lengthy conversation with Father Mentrup, Mr. Andriacco said.
“There was no urgency to do so,” Mr. Andriacco said. “He's had to talk to doctors, lawyers and police. And there's been no reason for us to add to that burden.”
Mr. Andriacco said details of Wednesday's meeting will not be released. But he said Father Mentrup's future at Fenwick High School was not a major issue.
“Father Mentrup has been a wonderful principal at Fenwick, one of the best principals the school's ever had,” Mr. Andriacco said. “We know of no reason why he can't continue to be a very effective principal at Fenwick.”
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