Bishop Solveig Fiske has now concluded in the case where a priest ended up in a fight with a 14-year-old at a confirmation camp. Fiske emphasizes that a written reaction is the strongest reaction they can give without dismissing the priest. – This is due to the seriousness of the case and says how seriously we have assessed the incident. The bishop apologized It was at a confirmation camp in Storhamar church on Saturday 30 April that it happened. Participants were young people from two congregations in Ringsaker. There was a fight between the priest and one of the confirmants, which ended with a catechist having to separate them. The episode is said to have happened when the priest confiscated the cap of a confirmant and gave the 14-year-old a hymn book. The boy is said to have reacted by knocking the book out of the priest’s hand. Then the basketball game started. In retrospect, the priest was taken out of service and the bishop of Hamar has apologized for the incident to the confirmants. Bishop Solveig Fiske has now given the priest a written warning. Does not go into detail – The priest has behaved in a way that is reprehensible and unacceptable, and the person’s behavior in connection with the events is a clear violation of a priest’s duties, says Bishop Solveig Fiske. The bishop adds that similar or other breaches of duty may mean a more severe reaction. – Including an assessment of the termination of the employment relationship, says the bishop. She will not go into further details about what happened or whether there are different views on what happened, but believes that the case is well clarified. The pastor has no comment She says it is important as an employer to be clear to employees and to the congregations what is acceptable and what is reprehensible. According to the bishop, the priest is also required to provide guidance at a highly competent level over a longer period. This means that an agreement has been entered into where the priest meets for conversations about what has happened and the way forward. – The priest is also deprived of confirmation teaching for the confirmation cohort 2022/2023, the bishop states. Bishop Solveig Fiske says the priest in question will be in arranged service in the future. news has been in contact with the priest who has no comment. Stig Johnsbråten is a shop steward in the priests’ association. He will not comment on the case. Bishop Solveig Fiske has never gone public with a written warning before, but says that it is due to the special nature of the case and that it has already been in the media.
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Priest was taken out of service after a basket case in Storhamar church – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
