Mich. priest backtracks on gun classes at church

DETROIT — The Michigan Catholic priest criticized for urging parishioners to arm themselves has posted on Facebook that he has canceled upcoming classes on obtaining a concealed pistol license.

The Rev. Edward Fride said he'll abide by the directive of Lansing Bishop Earl Boyea, who oversees the parish. Boyea said Monday such classes are not appropriate for church property.

"As our Bishop, he is responsible for setting policy for our parishes and he has decided and publicly stated that CPL (concealed pistol license) classes are not appropriate on Church property," Fride wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. "That is his call to make and we will obviously follow his policy on this and on all decisions he makes as he shepherds this Diocese. No parish is an island unto itself and no priest operates on his own. I am his priest and I will continue to serve him to the best of my ability."

Fride was referring to the concealed pistol license class he arranged at Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor, Mich., earlier this month. Two more classes were scheduled before the bishop intervened.

When some parishioners protested, Fride wrote an extensive letter to parishioners explaining why they should carry guns. The letter was titled "We're not in Mayberry anymore, Toto."

Lansing diocese officials found out about Fride's gun-promoting actions Monday.

Fride's statement also was posted on the Diocese of Lansing website. Fride's statement did not address or retract any of his other statements urging parishioners to arm themselves.

Fride also posted lighthearted comments on Facebook in response to media reports, including some British newspapers. He joked Tuesday on Facebook that he might become a cloistered monk.

"I'm sending my application to the Carthusians, think I can convince them that I'm only 25?" posted Fride, who is in his 60s, and was referring to an order of contemplative monks founded by St. Bruno.

In another post, Fride wrote:

"So our cpl (concealed pistol license) situation just made the UK press, maybe I can get a job as a security guard/chaplain at Downton Abbey..." Fride quipped, about the PBS TV series.

Al Kresta, a radio host on Ann Arbor-based Ave Maria Catholic radio, is a Christ the King parishioner and discussed the controversy about his pastor on Tuesday's "Kresta in the Afternoon" show.

Kresta paid tribute to Fride's skills as a pastor and said the priest was a personal family friend. But Kresta, while saying he's a strong proponent of gun ownership, said Fride's action promoting the gun class "was imprudent."

Kresta said Fride's letter to parishioners "sounded like somebody who was embattled, somebody who wasn't his best self."

"When he began sounding a little like a recruiter for the NRA, I said this doesn't sound right to me," Kresta told listeners. Kresta said the controversy will "jeopardize the unity of the parish."

Fride received many supportive comments via Facebook.

"We have your back. You can not go anywhere," wrote one Facebook poster. Another wrote: "You are doing such good in Ann Arbor ... Getting extra prayers you way!"

Others signaled disappointment with him and the publicity.

Fride has not returned requests for comment.

In his letter to parishioners, Fride urged parishioners to carry guns because of recent crimes in the area, and because he was concerned about the safety of students attending nearby Catholic schools.

Last week, Fride posted on his Facebook page a link about a 2013 shooting at Arapahoe High School in Colorado, in which a student was shot by another, who then took his own life.

"Worth thinking about; kids should not only feel safe but be safe," Fride posted last Thursday on Facebook.