Priest arrested, charged with growing pot in rectory

[PaDUer]

Now they're after priests--

Posted on Thu, Jan. 22, 2004

Priest arrested, charged with growing pot in rectory
BY GINA MACE AND COLETTE M. JENKINS
Knight Ridder Newspapers

AKRON, Ohio - (KRT) - The three books confiscated by Norton, Ohio, police seemed out of place in the private office of a Catholic priest.

"Opium for the Masses." "Marijuana Growers Guide." "Marijuana Medicine."

But police said what was going on in the Prince of Peace Catholic Church rectory had little to do with church business.

Following a search of the residence and office of the Rev. Richard A. Arko, Norton police announced Thursday they had arrested the 40-year-old pastor on a charge of illegal cultivation of marijuana. A second man, Jensen J. Powell, 24, who is unemployed and living at the four-bedroom Shannon Avenue rectory, was charged with trafficking in marijuana.
-snip-
Police confiscated not only the books but also 35 marijuana plants ranging from 6 inches to 4 feet, grow lights, electric transformers and air purifiers, all from a room that police said was being used to grow marijuana. According to police, the plants were growing in a second-floor bedroom of the rectory.

Police took two baggies of marijuana and $1,100 in cash from Powell. They allege that Powell was selling marijuana from the residence.
-snip-
Full article--

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/7774124.htm

[Disandra]

1. I hate the war on drugs.

I must admit the title made me giggle a bit...a PRIEST with POT?!? WTF? My Catholic grandmother would probably drop dead of a heart attack.

Anyway, hopefully this is going to get a lot of press coverage. If they are going after religious people for this, maybe some of those "Conservative Christians" and "All Drugs Are Bad" types will wake-up.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Sure, I got higher with a few Jesuits back in the 70's.

The ones that weren't into scotch. Had some great philosophy/religious raps with those guys...

[PaDUer]

12. This made the news

in our area tonite, Scranton, PA..pictures and all.

[Dude_CalmDown]

2. Finally! A church I actually want to go to!

It's about time the Catholic Church took a step in the right direction. Woohooo!

[Edge]

3. LOL.

I too think the war on drugs is getting out of hand. But it's funny that a priest would grow pot in a rectory.

Interesting on what goes on in churches now.

[lcordero]

4. hehehehe

That is one happenin' church you got there. Where do I sign up to join?

:smoke:

[PaDUer]

13. As they say...

they're human and they turn the collar around..tells you plenty..

[jonoboy]

5. must have better things to do than bust a stoned priest

[Obamarama]

6. Man, I'm hungry....

Note in the parish bulletin:

There will be no communion during this morning's 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. masses due to the fact that Father had a bad case of the munchies last night and ate all the wafers.

[Disandra]

7. HA!

Geez...never drink my green tea when reading the "General Discussion."

***Cleaning up Keyboard***

[Edge]

10. LOL!

I just spit all over the computer screen.

[calimary]

15. Great! Hilarious!

That'd start gettin' 'em back into church. I wouldn't mind having that priest preach to me. I think I'd like to hear what he'd have to say.

[KG]

8. bummer, dude

:smoke:

[Nikia]

9. I don't see anything contradictory

Some people do feel that marijuana enhances their spiritual experiences. It has been used in many religions for this, possibiliy even early Christianity.
One of the books was "Marijuana Medicine". Perhaps, he or others he knew were able to benefit from medical marijuana. Many with such afflictions who tried medical marijuana and greatly helped have felt that marijuana was a gift from God. He could have felt that growing marijuana for those in need was a Christian thing to do. I hope that he says that at his trial.
Of course, selling it for profit would not be as moral. He did need money to help him support the equipment for indoor growing though.

[MrSlayer]

14. Is it wrong for me to say....

that I'd much rather see priests with pot than with kids?

[lcordero]

16. true true

[Serenity-NOW]

17. Now that's a faith based initiative I could get behind!

George the Stupid II wants to give our tax dollars to tax exempt folk and this is how they repay him. Hahahahahahaha. Hey wait a second, how come they can be tax exempt and get tax dollars? This is a conundrum since we already subsidize the church with tax exempt status. I guess we don't need to tithe anymore! Wooooohoooooo finally a silver lining.

[Nihil]

18. Holy Smoke Batman!

When I was at school, we had a residential visit to a "retreat"
somewhere in Shropshire which was run by a bunch of priests who
were into meditation, Barclay James Harvest and joss sticks.

Before that, the only priests we'd met were in one of three classes:
the ramrod disciplinarians (SJs), the whisky drinkers (usually older,
ex-military chaplain ones) and one or two definitely dodgy old guys
who you'd never see on your own ...

The lot at the retreat were still fervent Christians but would allow
debate (as long as it was supported by reason rather than just the
adolescent contrariness) and believed in music, tolerance, kindness
of nature rather than just "book" churchgoers.

Awakened a few memories from the years reading this thread!

Nihil

[scarlet_owl]

19. So THAT'S whats in the censer!

I thought Mass had been funnier lately....

[Loonman]

20. The War on (some) Drugs

Strikes again.

[LizW]

21. All I can figure is

the father is searching for a "higher" power.;)