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Priest suspended after praying for Dutch victory
Jul 16, 2010, 13:21 GMT
Amsterdam - A priest has been suspended after praying for a Dutch victory in last Sunday's World Cup final against Spain.
The Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam Jozef Punt said that it was not accepted that the Lords Supper was misused for such worldly pursuits.
Paul Vlaar, who is known as a football priest, had previously been warned several times, a spokesman for the bishop said on Friday.
The priest still held his service dressed as a goalkeeper in the orange colours of the Dutch side and allowed members of this congregation to shoot balls at him through the church entrance.
'That was a clear breach of the sanctimony of the Lords Supper in both words and deeds,' the church said, adding that Father Vlaar has been suspended to give him time to reflect.
There were no plans to fire him, they said.
His congregation has reacted angrily to the suspension, with a spokesman saying that they had been left surprised and disappointed at the church's actions.
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