The deacon, social activist, attorney-at-law and politician yesterday admitted to The Gleaner that the archbishop had barred him from delivering sermons.

“I can confirm that I have been asked not to preach during the time of my active political involvement, but my status as a deacon in good standing remains,” Mr. Thwaites said.

Deacons are just below priests in the Catholic hierarchy and have the right to administer certain sacraments and wear a special white robe known as a ‘dalmatic’. They help the priests administer Mass, preside over baptisms and read the gospel in Church services, the role Thwaites has been temporarily stripped of.

The contents of a letter, purportedly sent to Deacon Thwaites by Archbishop of Kingston, Lawrence Burke, could not be attained by The Gleaner.

However Thwaites said: “It is clearly stated (in the letter) that it has nothing to do with any personal conductof mine but it is the opinion of the archbishop that there is a conflict between being a politician and being a Christian minister.”

When asked if he agreed with the archbishop’s decision to bar him from the pulpit, Deacon Thwaites said: “When you are ordained in the Catholic Church you make a promise of obedience to the bishop, no matter how much you disagree with him.”

Deacon Thwaites, who also hosts Power 106FM’s talk show Independent Talk, would not say when he received the letter advising him of the archbishop’s decision.

Attempts to reach the archbishop proved futile as The Gleaner was told he was ill and had gone to receive treatment.

Reverend Haughton James, the Vicar General, who is the chief administrator for the Catholic Church here, was tight-lipped on the issue. He said it was one for the archbishop to speak on.

“I prefer you to talk directly to Archbishop Burke on the matter,” he said.

Pressed further he added: “I do not have records in front of me as I am speaking with you and therefore I would rather not address the matter at this time.”

Deacon Thwaites is one of four resurrected PNP members brought back by the party to help it to an unprecedented fifth term in office.

He was elected to the office of Member of Parliament for Central Kingston in 1997, a constituency with strong garrison features.

In September of last year, Thwaites challenged and defeated Victor Cummings, the incumbent MP for Central Kingston to set the stage for his return to the political front.

Thwaites was forced to step aside months before the 2002 general elections when allegations of professional impropriety emerged.

Thwaites’ law firm had lodged two cheques for the Postal Corporation of Jamaica, valued at $10 million, to the firm’s account. His son Daniel Thwaites was Postal Corporation chairman at the time.

Although the cheques were reimbursed, the foul stench remained and forced Thwaites to quit.

Auditor General Adrian Strachan cleared Thwaites of any wrongdoing after a subsequent forensic auditof the books of the agencies in which he was involved.