Archbishop Barry Hickey issued the following statement last weekend regarding Fr Richard Abourjaily:
“Fr Richard Abourjaily is a priest of the Sydney Diocese currently without priestly faculties.
“On the recommendation of Fr John Flader of Sydney, I met Fr Abourjaily some weeks ago regarding the possibility of him taking up priestly ministry in Perth.
“I allowed him to reside in a Perth parish and gave him permission to help out if needed while I contacted Cardinal Pell.
“Following my conversation with the Cardinal, I thought it best to recall Fr Richard from the parish and arranged for him to live privately with two other priests. Fr Richard does not have Perth faculties and therefore cannot do any public ministry until further notice.
“Fr Abourjaily will use this time to take stock and discern his future. I do not feel I can comment in any way on events that occurred in the Sydney Archdiocese.