<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Joachim Kang gets okay to resume duties as priest
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Kimberly Spykerman
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Father Kang will be on home leave for a year to spend time with his father but is keen to resume his duties. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->A CATHOLIC priest jailed in 2004 for pocketing millions from his church and who finished serving his sentence last month has now been granted a full restoration of his priestly duties by the head of the Catholic Church in Singapore.
Archbishop Nicholas Chia said in a statement earlier this month that Father Joachim Kang, 61, can now say mass and preach, among other 'sacred functions'. The statement was published in this week's Catholic News, the church's fortnightly newsletter.
Father Kang spent four years behind bars and another nine months under a home detention scheme after being found guilty of embezzling $5.1 million from St Teresa's Church in Kampong Bahru, which he headed.
The scandal - the first-ever criminal trial of a Catholic priest in Singapore - hit the 200,000-strong Catholic Church here hard. Father Kang was then suspended from his duties as a priest.
Archbishop Chia, 71, said that Father Kang is, and 'has always been' a Catholic priest. 'He has done time under the law and I am most happy to welcome him home to the Catholic community.' However, he has not been assigned to any post yet, although the Archbishop said he intends to offer him a 'meaningful' one which will utilise his talents for the good of the Church.
Father Kang is schooled in canon and civil law and was known among his parishioners for being a devoted priest.
When he was released on the home detention scheme, Father Kang started doing administrative work in law firm Colin Ng & Partners.
In a recent interview with The Straits Times, he voiced his desire to discuss with Church leaders any future role he may have. He said the Church had been his calling since leaving school and was a life-long vocation.
Archbishop Chia told The Straits Times yesterday that he met Father Kang at his official residence in Victoria Street late last month and told him the news. It was the first time since Father Kang's release from jail that the two had met. Archbishop Chia said the Church made the decision as Father Kang was 'repentant'.
Father Kang told The Straits Times last night that he felt 'gratified' by the Archbishop's statement. 'Yes, I am a priest as I have been for the last 35 years and I look forward to continuing my services in due course.'
He said he had no reservations about re-entering the fold - a sentiment he attributed to his strong faith and a supportive network of family and friends.
During the meeting, Father Kang also requested home leave as he wanted to spend time with his aged father, who is ill. Father Kang's mother died of age-related health complications last year when he was in prison.
Father Kang said that he would be on home leave for at least a year, as he 'really needs the rest'. When asked how the Catholic community and other Singaporeans might react to a priest with a criminal record, especially one who took his own followers' money, Archbishop Chia simply said: 'I can't tell you how they will react.'
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Kimberly Spykerman
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Father Kang will be on home leave for a year to spend time with his father but is keen to resume his duties. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->A CATHOLIC priest jailed in 2004 for pocketing millions from his church and who finished serving his sentence last month has now been granted a full restoration of his priestly duties by the head of the Catholic Church in Singapore.
Archbishop Nicholas Chia said in a statement earlier this month that Father Joachim Kang, 61, can now say mass and preach, among other 'sacred functions'. The statement was published in this week's Catholic News, the church's fortnightly newsletter.
Father Kang spent four years behind bars and another nine months under a home detention scheme after being found guilty of embezzling $5.1 million from St Teresa's Church in Kampong Bahru, which he headed.
The scandal - the first-ever criminal trial of a Catholic priest in Singapore - hit the 200,000-strong Catholic Church here hard. Father Kang was then suspended from his duties as a priest.
Archbishop Chia, 71, said that Father Kang is, and 'has always been' a Catholic priest. 'He has done time under the law and I am most happy to welcome him home to the Catholic community.' However, he has not been assigned to any post yet, although the Archbishop said he intends to offer him a 'meaningful' one which will utilise his talents for the good of the Church.
Father Kang is schooled in canon and civil law and was known among his parishioners for being a devoted priest.
When he was released on the home detention scheme, Father Kang started doing administrative work in law firm Colin Ng & Partners.
In a recent interview with The Straits Times, he voiced his desire to discuss with Church leaders any future role he may have. He said the Church had been his calling since leaving school and was a life-long vocation.
Archbishop Chia told The Straits Times yesterday that he met Father Kang at his official residence in Victoria Street late last month and told him the news. It was the first time since Father Kang's release from jail that the two had met. Archbishop Chia said the Church made the decision as Father Kang was 'repentant'.
Father Kang told The Straits Times last night that he felt 'gratified' by the Archbishop's statement. 'Yes, I am a priest as I have been for the last 35 years and I look forward to continuing my services in due course.'
He said he had no reservations about re-entering the fold - a sentiment he attributed to his strong faith and a supportive network of family and friends.
During the meeting, Father Kang also requested home leave as he wanted to spend time with his aged father, who is ill. Father Kang's mother died of age-related health complications last year when he was in prison.
Father Kang said that he would be on home leave for at least a year, as he 'really needs the rest'. When asked how the Catholic community and other Singaporeans might react to a priest with a criminal record, especially one who took his own followers' money, Archbishop Chia simply said: 'I can't tell you how they will react.'
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