There s more unrest in the St. Rose Catholic Church in Perrysburg.

The priest appointed to replace the Rev. Thomas Leyland, who parishioners have fought to remain as pastor, is not accepting the position for undisclosed personal reasons, the Toledo Catholic Diocese announced yesterday.

The Rev. David Nuss, previously the vocation director for the diocese, told the diocese of his decision on Tuesday, spokesman Colleen Buckman said.

He was appointed pastor of St. Rose in April to be effective Monday. Father Leyland retired Sunday.

The diocese statement read: Father David Nuss has decided not to accept the Pastorate of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Perrysburg for personal reasons.

No additional information about why Father Nuss declined the position or what role he may have in the diocese was available yesterday, Ms. Buckman said.

It s personal and it has nothing to do with the situation at St. Rose, she said.

A message was relayed through the diocese to reach Father Nuss for comment, but he did not contact The Blade yesterday.

Father Nuss was ordained in 1993. He was named director of vocations in July, 2002, and was appointed chaplain of the Catholic Youth Organization in June, 2004.

Also in 2004, he was among those recognized by the Toledo-area 20 under 40 Leadership Awards Recognition Program that honors people in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan who have distinguished themselves in their careers or communities.

People are thinking, Oh my God, what s next? said Joan Foster, a St. Rose parishioner and a leader in the effort to keep Father Leyland.

[Father Nuss] was our new pastor one day and gone the next.

Mrs. Foster said the way Father Nuss is leaving is a bit of a surprise. She thought that he moved into the rectory over the weekend, but then he left before his first Sunday Mass.

Bishop Leonard Blair announced that the Rev. Marvin Borger will be the new pastor of St. Rose, effective immediately.

Father Borger, chancellor and vicar general of the diocese, previously was appointed to be the part-time associate pastor of St. Rose. He will continue to be the vicar general of the diocese, but will no longer serve as chancellor. There has been no decision on a chancellor replacement, Ms. Buckman said.

One of Father Borger s first assignments was with St. Rose, where he served as an associate pastor from July, 1999, to July, 2002, Ms. Buckman said.

The Rev. Ronald Schock, who was appointed the director of vocation to replace Father Nuss, will now also be the part-time associate pastor of St. Rose.

Mrs. Foster said she is glad that someone with experience at St. Rose will be the new pastor and that staffing concerns at the parish might lead Father Borger to call on Father Leyland for help on occasion, something that she said Father Leyland and his supporters would welcome.

On Monday, Bishop Blair met with three parishioners from St. Rose and Father Leyland, and made the final decision not to reinstate the pastor.

Father Leyland, 69, and his supporters believe that he was forced to retire because he publicly criticized the bishop about the creation of the Blessed John XXIII parish next to St. Rose.

Father Leyland, brother of Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland, has led the parish of 8,100 since 1999.

The pastor has said he wanted to continue at St. Rose for several more years. He has filed an appeal with the Vatican requesting it overturn the decision.

The diocese has maintained that Father Leyland was given the option of being transferred, but that he chose to retire. And the decision was not meant to reflect negatively on the pastor and it s not a reaction to past criticism regarding the neighboring parish.

Contact Meghan Gilbert at: mgilbert@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.

First Published July 6, 2007, 3:39 p.m.