THE US Roman Catholic priest who has provided the most visible help to victims of clergy sex abuse for the past 18 years has been fired by his archbishop and cannot celebrate public Masses.

It's the second career disruption for the Reverend Thomas P Doyle. In 1986, the Vatican Embassy in Washington ended his employment as staff canon lawyer after Fr.Doyle co-authored a detailed memo sent to the nation's bishops that warned of the molestation crisis.

Fr. Doyle became the most outspoken US priest in criticizing the American hierarchy's handling of the scandal. He has provided victims pastoral counsel and expert legal advise in numerous suits against the church.

After Vatican service, Fr. Doyle enlisted as a US Air Force chaplain. Last September 17, Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of the Archdiocese for the Military Services withdrew his endorsement as a chaplain, meaning he cannot function as a priest on military bases or celebrate sacraments.

The stated reason was a disagreement over whether military chaplains must provide public Masses every day, but observers charged today that Fr. Doyle's advocacy for victims is the underlying reason.

The military archdiocese's chancellor said O'Brien is the only official able to discuss the situation. Calls to O'Brien's office were not returned today.

Fr. Doyle described the situation in an interview today.

Asked whether victim advocacy played a role in his firing he said, "I certainly would hope not, but I have no way of knowing for sure because I had no opportunity for dialog".

David Clohessy of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said "the only reasonable conclusion" is that Fr. Doyle was punished for victim advocacy.

"Most Catholics will see this as a very sad step backward," he said.

Fr. Doyle said that after leaving the Air Force he will seek a job acceptable to his Dominican religious order in substance abuse or hospice work.

This priest Rev Fr. Thomas Doyle

Is Our Shepard and He Looks after his sheep.

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

And we are lost. We are the lost souls of the Catholic Church because of the abuse and sexual abused which

the priest and nuns did to us.

some info for you if you are interested re Rev. Fr. Tom...email addresses to the military superiors of Rev. Fr. Tom's in US

<tpdoyle@copper.net> 

My dear brothers and Sisters we are in full support of Rev Fr. Thomas
Doyle one of our brave brothers who is not afraid to speak the truth, we
need more Priests and Nuns to come out with out fear and do the right
thing.

A person is just as guilty if he or she knows the truth of any kind of
abuse to anyone and says nothing about the ABUSE.

Greater than any Canon Law is the Word of God when he gave Moses the 10
Commandment. Beware to those who hide the truth, For Our Lord all ready
knows the truth.