Venice, Florida -- The leader of the Catholic Church for the Diocese of Venice is being compared to a bully. Some priests say he rules with fear and intimidation. The diocese says the allegations are untrue and malicious. One Catholic group says it's time for the pope to take action.
In 2007, Bishop Frank Dewane stepped in as leader of the Diocese of Venice overseeing 10 counties, 60 parishes and 250,000 parishioners.
Ellen McNally, a Catholic, says Dewane is not what she expected.
"He is to be leader, a shepherd, a gentle leader of the people. Bishop Dewane is not a gentle leader at all -- he's a commander," says McNally.
The allegations against Bishop Dewane first surfaced in June. Ten priests from across the diocese wrote a letter to the pope's representative in the U.S. The priests compared the bishop to a "bully" saying he rules using fear and intimidation and demoralizes priests. When the priests didn't hear back, Call to Action stepped in.
McNally belongs to Call to Action, a liberal Catholic group seeking church reform. She says the group seeks peace and justice. The Diocese of Venice says Call to Action is "totally incompatible with the Catholic faith and by the Vatican and countless Catholic faithful."
McNally says, "Since Bishop Dewane we've witnessed unjust action on his part."
McNally says Dewane unfairly fired or dismissed 20 church workers, has outbursts of rage, and shames staff and students.
"He goes into schools, insults students, insults teachers. He's not acting like a bishop, but like a CEO," says McNally.
Call to Action has set up a petition with nearly 1,400 signatures. McNally is writing to the Vatican asking the pope to investigate Bishop Dewane.
In a written statement, the Diocese of Venice says the petition, "[…] simply reiterates the sweeping, unfounded, general accusations from several months ago by a few anonymous priests."
The diocese calls the allegations "malicious" and "untrue".
The diocese says this is one more opportunity to smear the bishop's reputation and good name.
The diocese says Call to Action is using the petition to solicit followers and donations and questions the signatures' validity.
And Bishop Dewane is not alone, many Catholics support him.
Ellie Longo, a parishioner at St. Martha's Catholic Church in Sarasota, says, "I think he's been wonderful. I don't always agree with him. He's been a wonderful leader a shepherd to his flock."
