
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 16, 1994                   TAG: 9408160079
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PRIEST'S SUIT SAYS CANCER BROUGHT FIRING

NORFOLK- A Roman Catholic priest who worked at an Episcopal AIDS ministry has a filed a lawsuit accusing the diocese of firing him because he had cancer.

The Rev. Thomas J. Reardon is seeking $3 million from the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. His lawsuit, filed under the Virginians with Disabilities Act, alleges he has suffered wrongful termination, intentionally inflicted emotional distress and discrimination.

``He regrets it had to come to this,'' said Thomas C. Wagner, Reardon's attorney. ``He is not looking for publicity. He wants this to be handled as quietly as possible. ... He doesn't relish the thought of suing the church.''

David Dashiell, chancellor of the Norfolk-based diocese, denied the allegations. He said Reardon was fired because of ``nonperformance of duties. We believe he was not counseling very many patients,'' Dashiell said. ``We just felt his performance was poor.''

Reardon, 52, was hired as a pastoral counselor in June 1993 at Operation Amen. He was let go in March.

According to his lawsuit, Reardon was diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer in October and had surgery in November. He continued counseling patients and ``was complimented by the diocese on the manner in which he was able to continue his work despite his illness,'' the suit said, but he said the ministry's chairman made it clear that the reason for his firing was his illness.

Wagner said Reardon is back in good health and is not undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

by CNB