Father Mark White Book
The next chapter of Father Mark White’s story has been written, quite literally, by White himself.White, who was ousted as priest of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Martinsville and St. Francis of Assisi in Rocky Mount because of a dispute with his bishop, spoke to a group of approximately 40 socially distanced attendees Sunday afternoon at the Grand Fiesta Venue in Ridgeway about a book that he says should be finished in the next two weeks.
“I’ve missed you,” White said. “This is a difficult time – to contend with this virus and this blow to our faith at the same time is a great challenge.”
White referred to the news last week of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond’s agreeing to pay $6.3 million to 51 people who as children were sexually abused by clergy members.
“One of the victims was on TV,” White said. “She was grateful for the money, but she longed for justice, which she called ‘the free exchange of information,’ sharing of information by authorities – and that has not occurred to this day.”
White was ousted from his parishes because of a protracted conflict with his superior, Bishop of Richmond Barry Knestout, about posts on his popular blog that were critical of the church hierarchy’s handling of sexual abuse. Knestout told White to cease publishing the blog or lose his job. White stopped for a few months but resumed — after seeking permission without reply — during the pandemic.