கொக்கேய்ன் வைத்திருந்த கத்தோலிக்க பாதிரியார் கைது

ஆர்ச் பிஷப்பின் வலது கை என்று கருதப்பட்ட கத்தோலிக்க பாதிரியார் லியோனார்ட் வான் விலெண்ட்ரென் கொக்கேய்ன் போதையுடன் வண்டியோட்டிக்கொண்டிருந்த போது கைது செய்யப்பட்டார்.

Brookfield Pastor Charged With Crack Cocaine Possession

POSTED: 8:41 pm CST December 11, 2007


BROOKFIELD, Wis. -- The pastor of a catholic church in Brookfield, who was once the right-hand man of Archbishop Rembert Weakland, took on the title of defendant Tuesday, entering a plea of "not guilty" on charges of crack cocaine possession.

Police said a St. Francis motorist called for help last Saturday evening after seeing Father Leonard Van Vlaenderen's car drive up and along the sidewalk before coming to a stop. Van Vlaenderen was found unconscious, and inside his pocket, police said they found two rocks of crack cocaine.

For years, Van Vlaenderen was among the archdiocese's elite, working as secretary to former Archbishop Weakland. After Weakland's retirement, Van Vlaenderen, affectionately known by parishioners as Father Len, was appointed to head St. John Vianney parish in Brookfield.



In a letter to parishioners issued Tuesday, Archbishop Timothy Dolan said that Van Vlaenderen will need to step down from his post.

"Last January, after receiving various reports of concern for Father Len's health from parishioners and others, I insisted that Father Len take a health leave from the parish. He himself admitted to a variety of health-related struggles and spent the next seven months under the care of health professionals. Last August, with assurances from his doctors that he was ready to return to full-time ministry, I allowed him to resume his pastorate. Now, with this news, it is clear that Father Len will need step down as pastor and cooperate fully with the law," the letter says.

The archdiocese has named a temporary administrator of the church while it looks for a replacement pastor.