West Bend, Wi – Holy Angels Catholic Church in West Bend, Wi, has a mission statement on the front of its website that reads, “To bring Christ’s love to our community through worship, education, service, and outreach.”
Last Saturday during the 4 p.m. Mass, fill-in priest Rev. Charlie Zabler made some comments referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk that were unsettling to parishioners.
The parish posted a statement on its social media on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Holy Angels Rev. Russ Arnett said, “My concern was pastoral and the insensitivity of timing and his comments.”
Arnett addresses the issue in the upcoming bulletin. A portion of his letter to parishioners is below.
“As your priest and acting pastor, I want to address you regarding an issue this past weekend at the 4:00pm Mass. During his homily, Fr. Charlie made a reference to the recently murdered personality and political activist Charlie Kirk. I have listened to the homily and outside of the two minutes where he wanders off into a criticism of Mr. Kirk I thought the homily was well done. However, that two minutes is very significant…
“My concern is the criticism and negative use of Mr. Kirk as an example in a homily within 72 hours of the man’s death is a considerable lapse in pastoral judgment.”
Rev. Arnett said the Milwaukee Archdiocese was contacted about the issue on Saturday night. A change was immediately made regarding the fill-in priest who would oversee Masses on Sunday.
Rev. Nathan Reesman is the Vicar of Clergy with the Milwaukee Archdiocese. He will be coming to say all Masses at Holy Angels this weekend where he will be addressing what was said last week.
“After the whole situation, Father Russ felt it was best that Father Charlie does not continue having Masses there, because it did cause, some consternation,” said Reesman.
“While I’m there, I will just really touch on this so people are aware that we know at the Archdiocese that there was concern, and I will speak to it briefly, and then move on to the rest of the weekend’s liturgy.
“I think it’s important to let people know that we heard them.”
Holy Angels Mass times are Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11 a.m.
A quick side note – the live broadcast of last weekend’s Mass on the parish website was from the Sunday service, September 14, 2025, and not the Saturday Mass with Rev. Charlie.
This is a working story, and more information will be posted when details are available.
