BISHOP BARS PRIEST

                                            FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has issued a canonical precept to Father John F. Johnston, directing him not to exercise public priestly ministry. He was arraigned in three civil jurisdictions in October on an array of criminal charges and is now free on bail.

            The priest was advised of the bishop’s directive after the completion of arraignment proceedings against him in Kings, Queens and Nassau Counties. He will only be permitted to offer Mass privately.

            Father Johnston, ordained for the Brooklyn Diocese in l964, had not served here in more than 30 years, having been released from a diocesan assignment to parish work at his request in order to teach at the high school level.

Over that time, he taught at several secondary schools in the metropolitan area, the longest for 23 years until last June at The Oratory School in Summit, N.J.

            He was arrested Oct. 7 at his apartment in Jackson Heights for making harassing phone calls. As the week progressed, he faced additional charges that included possession of money allegedly taken from a Long Island parish.

The first arraignment was in Brooklyn Criminal Court Oct. 9 on eight counts of second-degree aggravated harassment and one count of second-degree harassment for allegedly making offensive phone calls to Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, conducted by the Christian Brothers. Bail was set at $1,000.

The next day he was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal possession of stolen property. The court set bail at $1,500.

On Oct.16 he was arraigned in Nassau District Court in Hempstead, charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny, a felony, for stealing approximately $86,000 from St. Martin of Tours Church in Bethpage. He had said Mass there on weekends for more than 20 years. Bail was set at $10,000.

During the arraignment proceedings, Father Johnston was remanded to the jail at Rikers Island. He is being represented by Manhattan attorney Joseph Stello.

In announcing the canonical precept Oct. 20, Bishop DiMarzio said he would examine Father Johnston’s future in the priestly ministry after the justice system has processed the civil aspects of his case.