The Bishop of Western Newfoundland and Labrador, the Rt. Rev. John Organ has rejected an ecclesiastical report that found he bullied and improperly dismissed the dean of the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Corner Brook, the Very Rev. Catherine Short. In a pastoral letter circulated to clergy and parish councils late last week, Organ said the provincial inquiry “was neither impartial nor grounded in canon law” and vowed to remain in office until his scheduled retirement next October.

In January 2025 Bishop Organ revoked Dean Short’s license, accusing her of “pastoral non-co-operation” amid a long-running conflict inside the Corner Brook cathedral parish. Several families quit the congregation in protest and launched complaints to the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada.

Dean Short, who had returned to ministry after cancer treatment, alleged the bishop interfered with day-to-day cathedral operations and pressured her to resume full duties prematurely.

Archbishop David Edwards, metropolitan of the province, appointed misconduct officer Jack Walsworth to investigate the dispute. His 46-page report—delivered in May—concluded that Organ violated the province’s Safe Church policy on “employment status, emotional misconduct and bullying,” and ordered him to:

1. Reinstate Short by 30 June 2025;  

2. Apologize publicly to Short, the cathedral, and the wider diocese;  

3. Take a three-month sabbatical before retiring on 1 October 2025.

CBC Newfoundland reports the metropolitan “accepted the findings in full” and communicated them to Bishop Organ on 17 June.

In his pastoral letter, obtained by SaltWire and confirmed independently by CTV Atlantic, Bishop Organ says he originally agreed “to sacrificially comply” but withdrew after lawyers advised that the process “misused canons” and posed “ongoing risk” to the diocese. He insisted the original complaints about Dean Short’s leadership “have been sidelined,” and called for a “fair and proper investigation” before any action is taken.

Bishop Organ did not address whether Dean Short will return to the cathedral, nor did he clarify his retirement plans. The metropolitan’s office and the provincial misconduct officer declined comment, citing confidentiality.

Dean Short told the Corner Brook Western Star she is reviewing options with legal counsel but remains “committed to reconciliation and safe church principles”. Canon lawyers note the metropolitan can refer non-compliance to the national House of Bishops, which has authority to impose sanctions ranging from inhibition to deposition.

For now, the diocese remains in limbo: cathedral pews have emptied, parish finances have fallen, and ordinary parishioners await clarity. One vestry member summed up the prevailing mood: “Everyone just wants a resolution—one that follows the rules we’ve all promised to uphold”.