Welcome to the Friends of Father Carmel website, established to honor and support Father Carmel Polidano.

 

     Father Carmel was “retired” at the age of 53!  We want to add his name to those of the good priests throughout the U.S. who are being persecuted by their local bishops.

 

     Father Carmel was removed as pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church in Bellmawr, N.J. on October 2, 2005, supposedly for “anger issues”.  The bishop of the diocese of Camden insisted that Father Carmel go to an institution, (where known pedophiles are sent to receive treatment) for “anger management”.

 

     The bishop never took the time to listen to the majority of parishioners who supported Father Carmel; but opted instead to listen to a few complainers with connections to the Chancery office. We, the friends of Father Carmel, believe that the bishop abused his power and wrongly removed a good priest and pastor.  We want the truth known!

 

     All one has to know is that, according to the bishop, the “final straw” involved an incident where one of Father’s dogs supposedly went to the bathroom on a neighbor’s lawn.  The police were called, and supposedly father was abusive to them.  A lie!  This can be proven by the two letters from the Bellmawr Police Dept. which deny the incident happened. 

 

     Father Carmel was also accused by a female parishioner, a former employee, of assaulting her in church during a Mass.  Another lie!  This case finally came to court and was tossed by a judge who knew better .  The bishop told a parishioner that he had removed Father Carmel as pastor for fear of “a million dollar lawsuit”; yet, took no action in returning Father Carmel upon his being cleared.

 

     Father Carmel remained in ministerial limbo until June 16, 2007.   After two years, many emails, phone calls, letters, meetings, and this website, the bishop finally relented and announced that Father would once again grace the altar of his own parish. 

 

 

Thank you for your support of this good priest!