Catholic Center director resigns

Our Savior Catholic Center will have a new director this year after the previous director and head pastor resigned in the midst of an allegation of sexual misconduct.

Rev. William Messenger, who had served as director since 1993, resigned his post in June. His replacement, Rev. Lawrence Seyer, has been serving as director since July 1.

Messenger was placed on administrative leave from the Catholic Center on April 29 because of an allegation that he engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with an adult. But, Messenger said the investigation into the allegation is now over.

Messenger remains a priest with the Los Angeles Archdiocese, wrote Tod Tamberg, director of media relations at the Archdiocese in an e-mail.

Messenger said his resignation was not related to the sexual misconduct allegation and was not an admission of guilt.

"The specific reason for my resignation was for the alcohol policy that I implemented at the Catholic Center that allowed students under 21 to drink," he said.

Messenger said authorities thought his policy was irresponsible, but, "I thought that if students were going to drink anyway, why not (drink) in a safe environment."

Seyer said he knew Messenger by name but did not know him personally. Because of the circumstances surrounding his predecessor, Seyer said several new rules and regulations will be implemented at the Catholic Center. These include a change in the operating hours of the center.

Seyer also said the direction of the Catholic Center would be steered toward a more mainstream stance.

"Bill (Messenger) had his understanding of the church, I have mine," Seyer said. "I am more mainstream in church politics and politics in general."

Messenger said, however, "I am more liberal than many people might be used to, but that does not place me outside the mainstream."

Additionally, the Catholic Center is working to formulate a new alcohol policy, Seyer said.

Messenger helped found "Theology on Tap," a monthly meeting where students drank beer and discussed religious issues. Seyer said the program may continue to exist, but alcohol will no longer be served if it is continued.

Before Seyer was appointed director of the Catholic Center, he was evaluated by a board of archdiocesan priests who proposed the selection to Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles.

"The Archdiocese, like other dioceses, has a Priests Personnel Board," Tamberg wrote. "The Board looks at a given priest's pastoral and administrative skills and his previous assignment history and then tries to 'match' him with an appropriate assignment - to a parish or other church ministry - that makes best use of his gifts and talents."

Seyer has no previous ties with USC, and before becoming director at the Catholic Center he served as an associate pastor at St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley, Calif. and at St. Barnabas in Long Beach, Calif.

"My plan is just to learn the ropes at the Catholic Center," Seyer said.

Since being at the Catholic Center, Seyer has met with several students to discuss the changes and programs in development for the coming year.

"I have been meeting with Father Lawrence (Seyer) for the past month," said Chris Collier, chair of the Catholic Student Association and Pastoral Council.

"He's brought a lot of energy to the table. I'm really looking forward to accomplishing some really cool stuff, continuing some strong programs as well as trying new ideas," he said.

One such program is the Capital Campaign, a fund raising campaign to build a new Catholic Center, Seyer said. The campaign started several years ago under Messenger and aims to raise $16 million in order to build a new facility and start an endowment.

"That campaign is up and running and continuing and still going very strong," Collier said. "We are still working very hard on this campaign and breaking ground in one or two years on a brand new Catholic Center that is going to be upwards of $10 to $12 million in construction costs. We're fundraising all over the archdiocese."

Regardless of the new leadership and other changes, Collier said he believes the Catholic community will remain strong.

"I do know that we have strong leaders at the Catholic Center, and we are looking to expanding on a lot of the great traditions that we already have," he said. "Under the new leadership we will be working just as hard as we did before to make our community a very welcoming place."

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Staff Writer Joanna Wu contributed to this story.