"No way Swaratsingh coming back to the church": Archbishop

Archbishop Edward Gilbert told the Trinidad Express Thursday there is no way Kennedy Swaratsingh will be returning to the church.

He said while it is true that the Public Administration Minister is still a Roman Catholic priest the church is waiting for him to apply to the Vatican so that he can be properly defrocked.

"It is true, he has never applied to be defrocked, but we have always encouraged him to come forward and do so as soon as he can," Gilbert told the paper.

Swaratsingh formally resigned on December 15, 2003, but has never taken steps to formally apply to the Vatican to be "defrocked".

Swaratsingh was placed under investigation by Gilbert over allegations of sexual misconduct, as well as of issues of financial impropriety. He was later exonerated of all charges, including those of sexual misconduct.

Read the story: Fr Swaratsingh resigns

Gilbert said "according to the Canon Law, section 1394, he automatically suspended his priesthood when he got married so he is out of the ministry but the church wants him to be reconciled because although he is married, his marriage is not recognised by the church."

And he insisted that "there is no way he is coming back to the church."

Also read: Swaratsingh still a priest, admits living in $7.5M home