Reported on June 27, 2009

Parents in front of the Church of St. Saviour rally in support of James Flanagan, principal of St. Saviour Elementary School. His contract was not renewed. Photo: courtesy of St. Saviour Preservation Society.

As Church of St. Saviour leadership and upset St. Saviour Elementary School parents remain stalemated over the non-renewal of principal James Flanagan’s contract, a mediation process looms as the next step in an attempt to resolve the impasse.

Ever since news leaked on May 11 that Father Daniel Murphy had informed Flanagan, the school’s principal of 26 years, that his contract would not be renewed, a group of parents has mobilized to fight the decision through protests, vigils, a blog and mailings. The Park Slope school has about 400 students.

“It has lifted me up incredibly,” said Flanagan, who asserts he only wishes to remain at the Eighth Avenue school for one more year. “Even parents I’ve had serious disagreements with have supported me.”

However, as the weeks have passed, these parents have grown increasingly frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of responsiveness from Murphy and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.

“Parents recently received a letter from Father Murphy but that was the first official notification of his decision. Before that, although word had gotten out, there hadn’t even been a formal announcement,” explained Cindy Brolsma, a mother of three.

In the June 8 letter, Murphy alluded to the tensions caused by the situation and responded to certain criticisms levied by parents.

“I haven’t done anything to create this myself,” Flanagan said of the tensions. “Parents have told me they’re demonstrating in my support, not against Father Murphy.”

Murphy did not respond to calls for comment.

Parents said they wanted to know why Murphy made this decision.

“There have not been any concrete reasons given,” said Brolsma. “Father Murphy continually refers to ‘preserving the vision’ but he won’t specify what he means.”

Flanagan, also seeking answers, said he asked Murphy how he did not fit with the pastor’s vision.

“He told me he was under no obligation to answer,” said Flanagan.

The two have not had any further communication since May 5, according to Flanagan.

The Rev. Kieran Harrington, the diocese’s vicar for communications, said, “The pastor is the sole decision maker. If there were immoral or criminal actions, certainly the diocese would get involved. But the diocese is not going to intervene because it can’t.”

This echoed the position stated in a May 30 letter to parents from Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano, which explained that because Flanagan is an employee of the St. Saviour parish, the diocese, an administrative body residing over the borough’s parishes, is unable to step in.

The strain of the standoff is becoming evident. Fliers distributed at a June 17 rally urged sympathizers to “withhold monetary contributions or donations to St. Saviour Church until Mr. Flanagan is offered a new contract.”

The parents are conflicted by the recommendation but see few alternatives.

“We don’t want to hurt the parish but apparently that’s the only effective way to get a point across sometimes,” said Brolsma.

James Rowland is a father of three students at the school and Flanagan’s adviser in the impending mediation.

“I have stopped contributing during collections,” said Rowland. “I intentionally review the bulletin to see when Father Tighe is saying Mass and attend that Mass.”

The mediation is nonbinding and Murphy will ultimately be able to stick with his decision if he chooses.

“Even if we lose, it is worth it,” said Rowland. “These are our children, our school and our parish. If that’s not worth fighting for, then nothing is.”

Flanagan, meanwhile, is still optimistic that the mediation will result in an amenable decision.

“I really think my cause is a righteous one and I’m hopeful I’ll be reinstated.”