Response by the Bishop of Long Island
The Episcopal Church in
BROOKLYN QUEENS NASSAU SUFFOLK
The Diocese of Long Island
Office of the 9ishop
TO: The Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Long Island et al
FROM: The Right Reverend Orris G. Walker, Jr.
DATE: June 30, 1997
I have prayerfiuly considered the report of the investigation of the
allegations made in an article appearing in the December 1996 issue of
Penthouse Magazine. This report by the "Investigative Team" was made
public by the Standing Committee of this di ocese on June 4, 1997.
As you know, I have said very little about the allegations contained in
the Penthouse article. I felt that it would have been inappropriate for me
to comment on this matter while the investigation was in progress. Since
the investigation has essentiall y concluded, however, and a report has
been promulgated, I feel that as Bishop of this diocese it is now
incumbent upon me to comment on the allegations in the Penthouse article,
as well as on the report made by the "Investigative Team.
At the outset I would like to express my appreciation to the members of
the "Investigative Team" and especially to Bishop O'Kelley Whitaker who,
at my invitation, assumed a leadership role in this investigation. The
task faced by the Investigative Team was difficult. The nature of the
allegations in the Penthouse article was such that Episcopalians
everywhere were shocked, not only by the written allegations, but by the
pictures displayed in the article.
The 1996 Diocesan Convention authorized an expenditure of money so that an
investigation independent from the diocese could be maintained. Some may
recall that I had initially indicated that the matter be investigated by
the Chancellor's office. Obviou sly, Convention felt that the
investigation should be conducted by persons who had no ties to the
diocese, even if it meant spending $100,000.00 or more. In this
connection, it is noteworthy that two (2) of the four (4) members of the
Investigative Team are sitting members of the Standing Committee.
I do believe that each member of the Investigative Team strove to find
the truth with respect to the Pen~ouse article and I am confident that
their findings insofar as they relate to the allegations they were asked
to investigate are correct, and based upon all of the evidence that could
reasonably be assembled. This diocese cooperated fully with the
investigation. The Investigation Team had free rein to speak to anyone
they thought might shed light on the issues. They were free to ask any
questio ns they deemed appropriate and to examine any and all diocesan
records, including financial ones.
With respect to the allegations contained in the Penthouse article, it is
important to remember that sometimes things are written not because they
are true but, rather, because this type of sensational journalism sells
magazines and books, often making people a great deal of money.
I am delighted that the allegations of "a secret cadre of approximately
six gay and bisexual cross-dressing Episcopal priests engaged in bizarre
rituals often performed before the altars of darkened churches" has proven
to be entirely false. Equally fal se were the allegations that a "steady
stream of young men from Brazil" were brought to Brooklyn for sexual
purposes. All claims of illegal drug use, and of sado/masochistic sexual
activity by Episcopal priests wearing church vestments have finally bee n
shown to be nothing more than a fantasy created by Mr. Barros and Mr.
Pereira, born out of greed. It now seems reasonably clear that the
shocking allegations of the desecration of holy spaces, and of bizarre
sexual activity by a ring of drug abusing Episcopal priests can be best
described as patently absurd.
I will not speak to each of the thirty-eight (38) allegations addressed by
the Investigative Team. However, I do think it appropriate for me to
comment on certain of the issues raised by the Investigative Team, as well
as some of the conclusions reached by them.
Much has been made in some quarters of the fact that Archdeacon Harris and
I, along with my driver, Valeriano Flores, had lunch with then Father
Andries at the River Cafe in Brooklyn. Mr. Andries brought Mr. Barros with
him to lunch. This was the first and only instance that I had lunch or
dinner at a restaurant where Mr. Barros was present. It is not unusual for
a bishop to have lunch or dinner with priests of the diocese. Sometimes
priests arrive with a member of their congregation. This is a fairl y
normal occurrence and I thought nothing of it at the time. I want to make
it clear that I certainly did not socialize with Mr. Barros or Mr. Pereira.
The Investigative Team accurately reported instances of financial support
of then Father Andries with funds over which I have discretionary control.
Assistance with expenses in connection with attendance by priests at
conferences abroad, sabbaticals, tu ition assistance for priests engaged
in continuing education programs, and the like are quite normal
occurrences, not only in this diocese but throughout the church. Likewise,
I frequently receive requests from priests to Memo: Clergy and Laity of
the Diocese of Long Island et al. Page 3 June 30, 1997
help people they are aware of who are in some degree of financial
distress. To the extent possible, most bishops usually attempt to render
what financial assistance they can. I certainly try to be responsive to
pleas for help, knowing full well that this is, after all, what God
expects of us.
The Investigation Team suggests that "throughout his adult life, Andries
has privately been an active homosexual with numerous partners over the
years, some of whom are parishioners... It has been alleged that at least
one of them was a minor." The Inv estigative Team goes on to state that
"none of those closest to Andries, including his ecclesiastical superiors
who were aware of his sexual activities, apparently at any time urged him
to observe appropriate boundaries of sexual behavior." Since the In
vestigative Team saw fit to comment on what it felt Mr. Andries'
ecclesiastical superiors had failed to do and since, as far as I know, I
was Mr. Andries' only ecclesiastical superior, I feel constrained to
respond to these comments.
I have no personal knowledge of any sexual involvement by then Father
Andries with any member of his congregation, and certainly not with any
person who was a minor. If such relationships had occurred and had I been
made aware of them, the appropriate response would surely have been
forthcoming from my office. I am distressed that this report suggests that
Mr. Andries may have engaged in sex with a minor, a criminal act, based
upon a mere allegation. I would have hoped that a charge of this nature w
ould have been based upon substantial proof.
The Penthouse article alleged a marriage between Mr. Andries and Mr.
Pereira. Previously, Mr. Andries confirmed that a commitment ceremony was
conducted at his home. Apparently there was no Eucharist at this ceremony,
nor was any blessing given. Thus, although there is a debate going on in
the Church today as to the appropriateness of the blessing of same sex
unions, since no such blessing occurred in this instance, the issue,
insofar as this case is concerned, is moot.
To have allowed himself to become the subject of the intimate photographs
shown in the Penthouse article was a serious lapse in judgment on the part
of Mr. Andries. To have allowed the photographs to wind up in anyone
else's possession is worse indeed. When I received an advance copy of the
Penthouse magazine, I immediately summoned Mr. Andries to my office. He
denied the allegations in the article, but could hardly not admit to an
intimate relationship with Mr. Pereira, as depicted by the photograph s in
the article.
In resigning as Rector of St. Gabriel's Church and in renouncing his
Orders, Mr. Andries clearly understood the detrimental impact that his
conduct and total lack of good judgment has had on his parish, this
diocese and the church at large. In a recent response to the report of the
Investigative Team, Mr. Andries has said, "I feel fully vindicated." I do
not read this report as a vindication of Lloyd Andries. Yet I feel it is
fair to say that by resigning as Rector and renouncing his Orders, Mr. And
ries did attempt to lessen any further harm his conduct may have caused.
Approximately one week prior to the publishing of the investigative
report, it came to my attention that an article appearing in one of the
major Brazilian newspapers dealt with this subject matter. This newspaper
article apparently alleged that Mr. Ba rros and Mr. Pereira have sued the
Diocese of Long Island for ~5,000,000.00. There are other allegations,
which Mr. Barros will reveal in a new book, such as twenty-two names of
priests engaged in this affair. It is interesting that the Penthouse
article alleges that six priests are involved, whereas this most recent
article now claims that twenty-two priests were involved. Apparently, Mr.
Barros would seem to believe that the bigger the lie, the greater the
sales.
With respect to the claimed lawsuit, let me state categorically there is
no lawsuit, that this diocese has not settled with either Mr. Barros or
Mr. Pereira, nor do we have any intention of settling with them in the
future. You should be aware that any lawsuit commenced by them or either
of them will be vigorously opposed by the Diocese of Long Island.
In the final paragraph of this report, the Investigative Team concludes
that "the Episcopal Church has no disagreement on the inappropriateness of
married persons being involved in sexual relationships with persons other
than their spouse, nor of preda tory sex, nor of sex with minors, nor of
sex apart from committed relationships--whether heterosexual or
homosexual--nor of members of the clergy engaging in sexual relations with
persons with whom they have a pastoral relationship... . There is no evid
ence that those who knew of Mr. Andries' sexual behavior, including those
who had authority over him, reprimanded him or even brought the
inappropriateness of it to his attention.
For this report to end on this note seems quite unfortunate. Since the
Team is referring to Mr. Andries, I must again reiterate that I have no
knowledge that he had any sexual relationship with any parishioner or any
minor, nor did I have any knowledge of Mr. Andries' involvement with
anyone who was married. I am not aware of any proof of predatory sex on
the part of Mr. Andries and I do believe that the very fact of the
existence of a commitment ceremony establishes a belief on the part of Mr.
Andries that he was committed to a relationship with Mr. Pere ira.
There are approximately 300 clergy canonically resident in this diocese.
Obviously, without appropriate complaint from others, it is impossible for
me to know what any or all of these clerics are about in their private
lives. I was the only person in this diocese with authority over Mr.
Andries. When facts came to light requiring a response on my part, one was
forthcoming immediately, and the interests of justice and this diocese
were served. This entire episode has been e xtremely painful to me, as
well as to many others in the diocese and the church at large. I thank
God that the bulk of these scandalous allegations were false. The time has
come for us to put this episode behind us and to move forward.
As we move on, let us do so with a renewed sense of compassion for one
another. Let us remove self-righteousness, judgementalism and
mean-spiritedness from our hearts and let us be filled, instead, with love
and hope for the future. Finally, let us rem ember in our prayers Mr.
Barros, Mr. Pereira, the Andries family, the people of St. Gabriel's
Church, this diocese, this church, and all those everywhere who may have
suffered from these unfortunate circumstances.
OGW:vid
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Response by Integrity, The Lesibgay justice ministry of the Episcopal Church
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 18:26:46 -0500
EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE Note 1597 by ENS
Statement from the President of Integrity on the allegations in the Diocese
of Long Island
Integrity reacts with sadness and dismay to the recent allegations of
sexual misconduct by a member of the clergy in the Diocese of Long Island.
Integrity condemns sexual exploitation and the abuse of power in any
relationship in the strongest terms as a clear violation of the God-given
gift of sexuality, the baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every
human person, and the core value taught by our Lord to love one another as
he loves us.
We wait for further details, not presuming the guilt of the priest or
any others, but in prayer for the alleged victims, perpetrators, and the
authorities of the Diocese and the National Church. We ask all people to
join us in prayer for the Church as the truth is sought.
Fred Ellis III
President of Integrity
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Response by the Oasis's Missioner, The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton, Missioner of the Diocese of Newark to the Lesbigay Community
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 17:27:26 -0500
Statement from the Diocesan Missioner to The Oasis
The Oasis, a ministry of the Diocese of Newark with gays, lesbians, their
families and friends, is deeply distressed to learn of the recent allegations
of clerical sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Long Island.
The article as written and the photographs displayed in Penthouse magazine
are most disturbing. The abuse of power in relationships is inconsistent
with a Christian understanding of love; the imbalance of power in sexual
relationships is alien to our understanding of sexuality as a gift of God.
We urge all Christians everywhere to await the details of a full
investigation, now being conducted by both the Diocese of Long Island and the
National Church Office, before presuming the guilt of the priest or any
others.
We urge a stance of temperance and the avoidance of the temptation to judge
all gay men by the allegations reported in the article.
Further, we urge all people to pray for the alleged victims and perpetrators,
as well as the authorities of the local diocese and national church as they
continue their investigation.
We ask your prayers as well for thos who are already rushing to judge,
condemn, and pontificate.
May our compassionate and merciful God be with us, one and all, in the days
ahead.
The Rev'd Elizabeth Kaeton
Diocesan Missioner to The Oasis
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Statement issued by Episcopalians United
For more information:
The Rev. Todd H. Wetzel
Executive Director, Episcopalians United
(800) 553-3645
Oct. 31, 1996
Reform group supports bishops
Episcopalians United has joined 27 bishops of the Episcopal Church in
calling for a "complete, independent investigation" of a possible sexual
scandal involving an Episcopal priest in Brooklyn, N.Y.
A story published in the December issue of Penthouse magazine quotes
two Brazilian men in their 20s as saying they engaged in orgies with the
Rev. Lloyd Andries of Brooklyn, N.Y. Andries resigned from the
priesthood on Oct. 25, after a meeting with his bishop, the Rt. Rev.
Orris G. "Jay" Walker.
In a statement released Wednesday, the 27 bishops issued a call to the
Executive Council, an elected board that oversees the Episcopal Church's
operations between each triennial General Convention.
The bishops urge Executive Council to call for:
- A full, complete, independent investigation and public report to the
Episcopal Church.
- A review of how Bishop Walker responded to rumors he acknowledges
hearing about a wedding between the priest and one of the young men.
- Full disclosure regarding the involvement, if any, of the Rev.
Howard Williams, who oversees children's ministries for the Episcopal
Church Center.
The bishops also urge General Convention, the Church's governing body,
and the conventions of more than 100 "dioceses" throughout the nation "to
provide clear and binding standards regarding the sexual behavior of
clergy."
"Episcopalians United thanks these bishops for their defense of
orthodox Christian teaching," said the Rev. Todd H. Wetzel, Executive
Director of EU. "We hope many more bishops will join them in calling for a
diligent pursuit of the truth."
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From: DLLeBlanc@aol.com
Subject: Penthouse rebukes the Church
To: episcopalians.united.topic@ecunet.org
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 19:42:05 -0500
Penthouse rebukes the Church
A United Voice editorial
The editors of Penthouse found a bizarre way of observing Christmas --
by publishing an article about possible sexual decadence in the
Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.
The publishing schedule of pornographers being what it is, Penthouse
released its December issue in late October. The new issue includes "The
Boys From Brazil," a lurid story by journalist Rudy Maxa about orgies in
the darkened sanctuary of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Brooklyn.
Maxa writes of cross-dressing priests who model themselves after Marilyn
Monroe and Madonna, a sex trade involving young Brazilian men and an
eventual wedding of two men, one of them an Episcopal priest.
Maxa mostly tells the story of Wasticlinio Barros, a young Brazilian
man. Barros says he lived sporadically for 18 months with the Rev. Lloyd
Andries, the rector of St. Gabriel's, in exchange for granting sexual
favors to Andries and other Episcopal priests.
Barros says he first met Andries in 1994 through the Rev. Howard
Williams, a priest overseeing children's ministries for the Episcopal
Church Center. Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning has placed Williams on
administrative leave and has ordered an investigation. Maxa writes that
"as far as Barros knows, Williams had no involvement with the priest's
sexual activities."
Maxa quotes Long Island Bishop Orris G. "Jay" Walker not as condemning
the alleged orgies, but as saying the state would not recognize a
purported marriage ceremony uniting the rector of St. Gabriel's with a
man named Jairo Pereira.
"I talked to Father Andries about it and got his explanation," Walker
told Penthouse. "First of all, for them to say there was a marriage
performed is just ludicrous, because the state of New York doesn't
recognize same-sex marriages....There may have been a ceremony, but I
don't think it was a marriage."
Penthouse says Walker conducted no investigation, even after a Brazilian
reporter spoke to him about the ceremony. "If they were consenting
adults, my position is that they were certainly free to take that
action," Walker told Penthouse.
"These people have sort of arrived here from Brazil, and the first thing
they do is attack one of my senior priests," Walker said.
Penthouse paraphrased Walker as saying he had not looked into the matter
carefully because neither a church member nor Barros approached him with
a complaint.
Andries resigned as rector of St. Gabriel's and as a priest of the
Episcopal Church shortly after Penthouse published its article.
What is appalling is that this scandal apparently prompted so little
investigation or corrective measures by the Diocese of Long Island
before a pornographic magazine decided to pursue some news leads.
'It ain't going to fly'
Some Episcopalians will remember Walker's candid response at General
Convention in 1994, when orthodox bishops sought to defend the Church's
adherence to clear biblical teaching. As the General Convention edition
of United Voice reported on Aug. 25, 1994:
Bishop Orris Walker of Long Island said a significant number of
Episcopalians in his diocese are single, whether by choice or
circumstance.
"Is this Church going to say to them that sexual intimacy for them is
abnormal if it does not occur within a marriage?" Walker said. "If this
Church expects me to go back to the streets of Brooklyn and Queens with
that one, it ain't going to fly."
Such a quote illustrates the moral anarchy set upon the Episcopal Church
by a General Convention unwilling to affirm holy matrimony as the sole
relational setting for sexual intercourse by Christians.
Romans 1:18-27 describes what occurs in a culture that rejects the
natural revelation of God. The parallel between the Book of Romans and
today's headlines is striking.
St. Paul writes in Romans: "For although they knew God, they neither
glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became
futile and their foolish hearts were darkened....Therefore God gave them
over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the
degrading of their bodies with one another."
Maxa writes in Penthouse that Barros and other men became "playthings
for priests whose commitment to the Scriptures had long ago been
replaced by a pursuit of pleasure that would have fit nicely in Sodom
and Gomorrah."
Even Penthouse, a publisher of grotesque and exploitative pornography,
seems to understand this story's implications better than some Episcopal
leaders. But throughout history, God has sometimes used circumstances
involving pagans to rebuke His disobedient children.
Even the sexual revisionists of the Episcopal Church are likely to
condemn the antics described in the Christmas issue of Penthouse -- but
on what basis?
The deeper scandal
The scandal is not only that these activities may have occurred, or even
where they may have occurred. The deeper scandal is in Episcopal leaders
who seriously propose that sexual intercourse between two men or two
women is the moral equivalent of lovemaking by a married man and woman.
If homosexuality is "morally neutral," as Bishop John S. Spong's
Statement of Koinonia claims,
there is nothing inherently scandalous
about a male priest marrying another man.
The Penthouse article may, ironically, serve as a God-ordained rebuke.
Through this, the Episcopal Church might reclaim its understanding that
non-marital sex -- whether engaged in by heterosexuals or homosexuals --
is sinful, exploitative and abusive.
The Roman Catholic apologist G.K. Chesterton once observed that a person
who no longer believes in God will believe in anything else.
The same is true of marriage. When an Episcopal bishop publicly denies
that marriage is the sole God-ordained covenant for sexual intercourse,
that bishop sets loose the spirit of moral anarchy and licentiousness.
Another chance at clarity
In both 1991 and 1994, General Convention has rejected a proposed canon
law that says Episcopal clergy will limit their sexual activities to
holy matrimony.
In 1997, General Convention must take more seriously the call to affirm
matrimony, unequivocally, as the sole appropriate setting for sexual
intercourse by Christians.
Otherwise, on what grounds would the Episcopal Church reprimand sexual
sin by clergy? Will it cite Bishop Spong's
Statement of Koinonia,
which is a non-binding statement of revisionist opinion by approximately
70 bishops? Will it cite the portion of the Church's "Constitution &
Canons" that refers to, but does not define, immorality?
Without greater clarity, the Episcopal Church risks affirming that
sexual intercourse is immoral only if it does not involve a condom, if
it subjects the Church to a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct or if it
leads to a humiliating article in Penthouse.
As Advent approaches, Penthouse holds a mirror to the face of the
Episcopal Church. May we all find the courage to look in that mirror and
behold the hideous consequences of rebellion against God's revelation.
This Advent, let us overcome our dysfunction through heartfelt
repentance. Otherwise, although we claim to be wise, we will have become
fools.
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From: DLLeBlanc@aol.com
Subject: Report from Long Island
To: episcopalians.united.topic@ecunet.org
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 20:17:57 -0500
Diocese of Long Island approves independent inquiry
by Doug LeBlanc
MELVILLE, N.Y. -- The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island has authorized an
independent investigation of possible sexual scandal involving one or
more priests of the diocese.
The Diocesan Convention approved the independent inquiry on Saturday
morning, while meeting at the Huntington Hilton Hotel.
In another development at the convention, diocesan Bishop Orris G. "Jay"
Walker acknowledged a drinking problem. Walker said he will take
sabbatical time after the consecration of his newly elected suffragan
bishop, Rodney Michel.
The investigation will be independent in that neither the chancellor nor
the vice chancellor -- two legal advisers to the diocese -- will conduct
it. The diocese will, however, pay up to $100,000 to cover costs of the
investigation.
The investigation concerns the claims of two Brazilian men that they
engaged in orgies with priests inside the sanctuary of St. Gabriel's
Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. One of the men said that he and William
Lloyd Andries, then the rector of St. Gabriel's, exchanged vows in a
solemnization of their union.
Andries resigned from the priesthood and as rector of St. Gabriel's
after Walker discussed the Penthouse article with him.
Andries, in a statement issued through former Integrity spokesman Kim
Byham, acknowledges exchanging those vows, but denies allegations of
orgies, cross-dressing and sexual activities in the sanctuary.
A lively discussion
The diocese's Standing Committee submitted the resolution calling for
the investigation, and the resolution passed with near unanimity.
The Rev. Richard Brewer, a member of the diocese's Standing Committee,
said Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning urged the Standing Committee to
pursue an independent investigation, "and we believe he was right to do
so."
The Rev. Earle Pratt proposed additional language that would discourage
Church attorneys from reaching settlements with any aggrieved parties,
and would specify that the independent investigation was the only
investigation authorized by the convention.
Brewer said the Standing Committee accepted Pratt's suggestions as
friendly amendments.
Earlier, Walker said an investigation had begun already under the
supervision of Robert Fardella, vice chancellor of the diocese.
The resolution met some resistance from Fardella and others, who said an
independent investigation could be too expensive.
Fardella first objected to the language discouraging settlements. "I
don't think you can tie the hands of the insurance carrier or the
lawyers handling this matter," he said.
Fardella said the investigation could be complete within two weeks, if
it proved the Penthouse story inaccurate.
But John Works, chancellor of the diocese, spoke forcefully in favor of
the independent investigation.
"It's critical that this investigation be beyond reproach," Works said.
Works added that:
- National Church canons prohibit diocesan chancellors from working on
such an investigation;
- there's no way to know how soon the investigation could be finished;
- the Immigration and Naturalization Service could become involved if
Brazilian immigrants were mistreated;
- and law enforcement could become involved if any parties used
cocaine, as claimed in Penthouse.
"My strong advice is that we pass this resolution and get on with it,"
Works said, prompting applause.
The vice chancellor then argued that an independent investigation could
cost between $300,000 and $500,000.
The Rev. George Busler said his parish would pay $5,000 toward any such
costs, and he challenged other rectors to make similar pledges.
Ted Gerbracht, the diocese's treasurer, said the resolution places a cap
on what the diocese will spend. He added that the diocese has more than
$100,000 in surplus funds.
The Rev. Churchill Pinder compared the diocesan situation to recent
allegations of rape at an Army training base. Pinder said the Army has
expressed its intention to care for the affected people, to conduct a
full investigation that could involve interviewing 1,000 people and
asking "What system allowed this to happen?"
"It's a simple truth: When you're dealing with possible sexual
misconduct, allow the light to shine in every corner," Pinder said to
wide applause.
"Do you want to know the truth?" Brewer asked from a microphone.
"Yes," several people replied.
"We cannot hold our heads up unless we know the truth. Please, keep your
minds focused on the purpose, not the cost" of the investigation, Brewer
said.
"What I have heard over the past five minutes are what I would consider
sound bites," said Raleigh Lee.
"'Complete investigation' -- what does that mean? It's been 30 years,
and we still don't know who killed J.F.K.," Lee said, prompting
laughter.
"I'm hearing the smack of racism," Lee said, prompting several shouts of
"No."
The resolution also urged Walker "to invite another bishop of the Church
to assist" in the investigation. After the convention approved the
resolution, Brewer said that O'Kelley Whitaker, the retired bishop of
Central New York, will fill that position. Browning had suggested
Whitaker, and Walker already had accepted his addition to the
investigation.
The bishop's address
During his convention address on Friday, Walker described his trauma in
March, when he fell, struck his head and suffered a mild stroke during a
trip to Barbados.
Walker said he underwent an assessment during the summer at the Hazelden
Foundation, a well-known treatment facility for alcoholism and other
drug addictions.
Walker said he is a "workaholic" and "an aging male trying to deal with
pressure and tension." Walker said his wife and friends "have been
concerned about how I have dealt with tension by sometimes drinking too
much."
"This is something that I have to deal with and I simply ask for your
prayers," Walker said.
Most clergy and delegates gave Walker a standing ovation as he finished
his address.
Walker's address also prompted an open letter from 60 priests who urged
him to meet with them before Christmas (see sidebar for full text).
Some priests in the diocese have expressed frustration that Walker has
not paid canonical visits to their parishes, and that diocesan clergy
rarely meet as a whole.
"With this opportunity to be with you as our Father in God, we hope to
work together with you for the good of the Church and for the healing
and reconciliation of us all," the letter said.
"We, as your clergy, need you. We offer ourselves to you to help you in
the collective ministry we all have in this diocese. Please, Bishop
Walker, let us find a place with you in planning for the future health
of the Diocese of Long Island."
The Rev. John Jobson read the letter aloud in the closing moments of the
convention. The letter asked Walker to set a date and time for the
meeting, possibly before convention concluded.
Walker said such a meeting would be important, but that he would have to
set the date later. "I do promise we will have a notice with a mailing
to the clergy at the early part of this week."
A Letter From Clergy of Long Island
Dear Bishop Walker,
Thank you for your honest and forthright address yesterday. We
appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to inform us of the
specific means by which the investigation of the allegations made in the
current issue of Penthouse are being handled and the pastoral care you
have arranged for the members of St. Gabriel's parish.
Thank you as well for telling us of your own personal sufferings of this
year. During the time of your hospitalization and rehabilitation, you
were in our prayers, but our anxiety was high as we had so little
information to go on. Thank you for your touching description of your
accident in Barbados and the subsequent steps taken for your recovery.
We also appreciate very much your honesty about your own personal
problems in handling the undoubted stress being bishop of Long Island
brings and the steps you have begun towards your recovery. Sharing this
with us has been a most valuable lesson and we recognize your address as
opening a doorway for us to engage in free and open discussion
concerning the needs of Christian ministry in our diocese as well as in
our congregations.
Following the theme in your address that we are all frail and weak
vessels called into God's service, we reaffirm our dedication to the
ministry of the Gospel and offer ourselves to you as part of the
solution rather than part of the problem facing the running of this very
complex diocese.
Therefore, we respectfully request an opportunity to meet with you as
your clergy, very soon, to continue the free and open discussion with
you to capture your vision for the diocese and assist, as your deputies
on the congregational level, to reduce your stress and enable the
ministry of God's reconciling love to go forward in its fullness.
To be more explicit, we ask you to meet with us, your clergy, for a
substantial part of a day in the very near future, certainly before the
frenzy of the Christmas season closes in on us, to allow you to help us
help you in ministering to all of our parishes in the wake of the
allegations made in the Penthouse magazine. With this opportunity to be
with you as our Father in God, we hope to work together with you for the
good of the Church and for the healing and reconciliation of us all.
Knowing how busy you are and how easily our calendars fill up, we would
respectfully suggest that you would set a date, place and time before
the end of this Convention for us to meet with you. We would go so far
as to commend the Mercer School as a central site for the meeting and a
day sometime during the week following Thanksgiving.
We, as your clergy, need you. We offer ourselves to you to help you in
the collective ministry we all have in this diocese. Please, Bishop
Walker, let us find a place with you in planning for the future health
of the Diocese of Long Island.
Together in Christ,
[60-plus clergy of the diocese]
Return to the Table of Contents
From: DLLeBlanc@aol.com
Subject: Penthouse, the Bible & ECUSA
To: episcopalians.united.topic@ecunet.org
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 12:21:05 -0500
WASHINGTON BUREAU: Terry Mattingly's religion column for 10/30/96.
(forwarded by permission of Terry Mattingly)
Penthouse isn't known for its religion coverage.
Still, the Episcopal Church establishment went into damage-
control mode this week as the soft-porn magazine's latest issue hit
news stands, featuring news of an alleged clergy sex ring in the
Diocese of Long Island. It's the latest twist in the convoluted
story of the Episcopalians and their evolving teachings on sex.
The expose centers on the testimony of Wasticlinio Barros and
Jairo Pereira, two Brazilian males in their mid-20s. They say they
were brought to America and pressed into joining sexual orgies led
by the Rev. William Lloyd Andries at the altar of St. Gabriel's
Parish in Brooklyn.
Barros and Pereira provided credit card receipts and other
records as evidence of their travels and affairs with Andries.
Eventually Pereira was baptized and then united with Andries in a
same-sex union rite. Yes, Penthouse has photographs of both the
ceremony and the sexual romp that followed. In one X-rated scene,
Andries appears to be wearing liturgical garb.
There's much more to this story of sex, money, cocaine and the
"boys from Brazil," writes former Washington Post gossip reporter
Rudy Maxa. "They were playthings for priests whose commitment to
the Scriptures had long ago been replaced by a pursuit of pleasure
that would have fit nicely in Sodom and Gomorrah."
Actually, this suggests that Penthouse has a more conservative
view of the Bible than can currently be defended under Episcopal
law. In May, an Episcopal court ruled that the church has no law or
"core doctrine" that forbids the ordination a those sexually active
outside of marriage. Right now, local bishops call the shots.
This raises questions more shocking than the Penthouse expose.
If Barros has no proof he was given drugs, and if those involved in
these complicated sexual relationships were consenting adults, and
if church money wasn't used, and if Episcopal "core doctrines"
don't forbid sex outside of marriage or define "marriage," then
what did Andries do that was wrong? Was he merely guilty of
trusting someone with a camera? Are charges pending?
Nevertheless, Long Island Bishop Orris Walker, Jr., quickly
announced that Andries had resigned from the priesthood and that
Penthouse's charges would be investigated. A church official told
Newsday that Andries had "denied many" of the allegations.
Other questions remain. Barros said he first met Andries in
Buenos Aires, where the priest was traveling with another priest,
the Rev. Harold Williams. Later, Barros flew to New York to begin
what he thought was a job as a translator in Andries' multicultural
parish. It was Williams, he noted, who picked him up at the airport
and drove him to stay with Andries.
This is a provocative detail, since Williams directs the U.S.
church's ministries with children. Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning
was shown the Penthouse article on Oct. 24 and immediately placed
Williams on administrative leave, even though Barros specifically
said he didn't know if Williams was involved with the sex ring.
Apparently, Barros and Pereira did provide other names, including
that of the priest who performed the marriage rite. Penthouse
didn't name those who hung up when called for interviews.
Another crucial question: How much did the bishop know? Maxa
writes that while Walker denied "personal involvement with any of
the boys from Brazil" he did say that he had "seen them around." As
for the wedding, Walker said it "would be dishonest to say that I
don't know that there are those services going on."
Walker told Penthouse that he didn't investigate earlier
reports about Andries, in part because so many rumors circulate in
the church. Episcopalians, stressed the bishop, are in the midst of
heated debates about sexuality.
That's a fact. The debate will only heat up as events rush
towards July's General Convention in Philadelphia.
"In the absence of canonical action by the whole church, these
kinds of issues have been left to the local church. ... Obviously,
we're going to try again in Philadelphia," said Episcopal spokesman
Jim Solheim, referring to efforts to pass laws clarifying church
teachings. "Right now, the sleaze factor is so heavy. This kind of
incident isn't going to make things any easier for us."
Terry Mattingly teaches at Milligan College in Tennessee. He
writes this weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service.
Return to the Table of Contents
From: DLLeBlanc@aol.com
Subject: "Our Selves, Our Souls and Bodies" review
To: episcopalians.united.topic@ecunet.org
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 21:32:14 -0500
Dear Friends,
Professor Stephen Noll has written the following review
for a future issue of United Voice.
This Internet posting is with his permission.
-- Doug LeBlanc
Editor, United Voice
Book Review
Our Selves, Our Souls and Bodies:
Sexuality and the Household of God
Charles Hefling, editor
(Cowley Publications)
Reviewed by Stephen F. Noll
The Committee for Dialogue on Human Sexuality recently admitted that the
sexuality "dialogue" in the Episcopal Church is not continuing apace.
Actually, it never began, because orthodox Episcopalians will not budge
from the starting point of Scripture's plain teaching on sex and
marriage and "revisionists" have already embraced the endpoint of
"sexual intimacy" between consenting adults as the sacrament of
liberated consciousness.
This revisionist endpoint is the reigning assumption of all the essays
in this provocatively titled collection. While the essays range from the
tentative to the outrageous, even the most "culturally conservative"
contributor, Bonnie Shullenberger, sighs and says that the traditional
standard "will not fly [b]ecause most of us in the West...have become
inured to the fluidity of sexual desire and practice that is a hallmark
of our culture..." (page 23).
So what will fly? Ms. Shullenberger decries promiscuity and calls for
"faithful and permanent" relationships. But does she not see that once
the transcendent norm of lifelong heterosexual marital fidelity is
dropped, every relationship will be defined by whether individuals find
it "life-enhancing"? It is not clear, for instance, what Fr. William
Lloyd Andries, of Penthouse fame, did wrong according to the fluid
culture in which he lived, even if he did court his spouse-to-be in a
fashion that would not pass muster with Miss Manners.
Whatever Ms. Shullenberger intends, "permanent" and "faithful" do not
mean what they used to, and it is no accident that the authors in this
collection do not advocate chastity or lifelong intent as a prerequisite
for "committed" homosexual or heterosexual relationships. How could they
make such traditional demands without turning those relationships back
into the bondage of marriage? Even "traditionalists" among today's
sexual vanguard, like Andrew Sullivan, allow partners "extramarital
outlets" so long as all parties agree to it.
In another essay, Martin Smith, the Superior of the Cowley Fathers,
wants to turn spiritual direction into a kind of sexual
consciousness-raising exercise. "Spiritual direction," he says, "is by
nature subversive," and by affirming the experience of gays and
lesbians, spiritual directors will begin "healing the chasm between
sexuality and spirituality that is one of the tragic flaws in the
Christianity we have inherited" (pages 69,75).
Fr. Smith is on to something. Biblical religion, both Jewish and
Christian, has purposely placed a chasm between God and sexuality: that
is what differentiates the Holy One of Israel, the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ from the Baals and Zeuses of ancient paganism. What we
are seeing among today's liberationists is not really new at all, but a
lightly baptized rehabilitation of an old spirituality.
National Church youth ministries coordinator Sheryl Kujawa -- in an
essay titled "How Might We Reach Our Children?" -- lays down the Core
Doctrine for instructing youths in governing their desires: "You are
holy. Sexuality is good. Sexuality is powerful. You are not alone. You
must take responsibility" (page 123). She calls for "continuing the
dialogue" between those young people who adopt abstinence as an option
and those for whom abstinence is a "discontinuity." Thanks very much,
Ms. Kujawa, but my kids are grounded!
Our Selves, Our Souls and Bodies is no fringe collection: its authors
include ten professors (five from Episcopal seminaries), two bishops,
and several Church officials. Dean Martha Horne of Virginia Theological
Seminary frequently cites this volume in her recent plea to abandon the
seminary's traditional sexual policy. Undoubtedly many people will
regard the book as "centrist." The problem today in the Episcopal Church
is that the center is a moving target.
Professor Timothy Sedgwick, a respected ethicist at Seabury-Western
Theological Seminary, is typical of this moving center. In his
contribution, "The Transformation of Sexuality and the Challenge of
Conscience," Prof. Sedgwick offers a revised "reading" of the biblical
texts (e.g., Genesis 2) by which the procreative and social purposes of
marriage become detached from each other. Without the biblical concerns
for offspring, marriage becomes what sociologist Anthony Giddens calls
"pure relationship." Once one cuts asunder the purposes of marriage,
homosexual unions are seen as not only permissible but actually a purer
form of intimate relationship.
We should also note closely the second part of Prof. Sedgwick's essay:
"the challenge of conscience." He poses a kind of moral equivalence
between traditionalist bishops who have refused to ordain women
(following historic precedent and with the authorization of fellow
bishops) and bishops like Orris Walker of Long Island, who condone
same-sex "ceremonies" without any official sanction or ecumenical
approval.
Prof. Sedgwick concludes that however cherished divergent views may be,
the Church must "resolve" the conflicts in order to get on with its
mission. Clearly this "resolving," in his mind, will go with the flow of
liberationist sensibility. Conservatives will be allowed to hold their
prejudices only so long as they cease to claim normative and permanent
status for them. In other words, the powers that be will let
old-fashioned Episcopalians keep their traditional vows and be buried
with Rite One.
Any principled opposition to the revisionist agenda, however, will be
interpreted as a moral violation the "bottom line of inclusion" and will
not be tolerated. In the words of David Norgard: "I am convinced that
the time has come when the church will have to cease its self-defeating
practice of consoling those who hate, and to start embracing those whose
only conspiracy has been to love" (page 200).
Let the reader beware! Some casual perusers may think this book is a
peace proposal in the sex wars of the Episcopal Church. In fact, the
velvet glove of "dialogue" barely conceals the authoritarian fist of the
revisionist movement. Does anyone really believe that if same-sex
marriage and ordination of practicing homosexuals is officially
sanctioned in 1997 as a local option, it will not be a binding law for
the whole Church soon after? Give these proponents the credit of logical
consistency: they are on a crusade for love, and no prisoners will be
taken.
The observation that "there are two religions in the Episcopal Church"
is trite but true. These essays bear it out. The real question is
whether we will find some modus vivendi that allows these two religions
to coexist, planted together in the same field -- until the Lord
threshes the harvest of his Gospel.
Stephen F. Noll is Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Episcopal
School for Ministry, Ambridge, Pa.
Return to the Table of Contents
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 20:16:24 -0500
From: "The Rev. Michael W. Hopkins WASHINGTON"
Subject: Response to Epicopalians United
[The following is not intended as an official statement of Integrity]
This is Not About Integrity: A Reply to Episcopalians United
by the Rev. Michael Hopkins
Doug LeBlanc, editor of the United Voice, posted an editorial on ecunet on
Monday, October 28, 1996 in response to an article in the just released
December issue of Penthouse magazine, "The Boys From Brazil." The article
described in detail the sexual practices of the Rev. Lloyd Andries and
unnamed others with young men brought from Brazil. Mr. Andries was also said
to have "married" on of these young men.
In his editorial, Mr. LeBlanc uses this very sad incident to further EUs
crusade against gay and lesbian peoples honest presence in the Church. This
incident is proof for him that the Episcopal Church needs the canon limiting
the sexual activities of clergy to holy matrimony that was rejected at
General Conventions in 1991 and 1994 and is being re-proposed in 1997.
Furthermore, he claims all non-marital sex, homosexual or heterosexual, to
be "sinful, exploitative, and abusive." "The deeper scandal is in Episcopal
leaders who seriously propose that sexual intercourse between two men or two
women is the moral equivalent of lovemaking by a married man and woman."
In reality, the deeper scandal is how we are living together as a community
of believers in the Episcopal Church, when a tragic incident such as this one
is used to demean a whole class of people, when relationships wherein the
partners strive for honesty, mutuality, fidelity, maturity, and service are
equated with obviously sick, exploitative, abusive ones. I dont expect Mr.
LeBlanc to "approve of" my relationship with another man. I do expect, and
believe all of us should expect from one another in this Church, a basic
level of dignity, recognizing that we are all struggling to live lives of
faith.
In reality, Mr. Andries sexual practices have no more to do with mine and my
partners than they do with Mr. LeBlancs or any members of Episcopalians
United who are striving in them for the values named above. Mr. Andries
story sickens and outrages me. Mr. LeBlancs equating of my relationship
with those portrayed in this story sickens and outrages me as well.
Mr. LeBlanc issues a challenge in his editorial. "Even the sexual
revisionists of the Episcopal Church are likely to condemn the antics
described in the Christmas issue of Penthousebut on what basis?"
Integrity issued a statement on Monday as well that said, in part, "[We]
condemn sexual exploitation and the abuse of power in any relationship in the
strongest terms as a clear violation of the God-given gift of sexuality, the
baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human person, and the core
value taught by our Lord to love one another as he loves us."
In other words, we condemn these acts because they are an abuse of a
God-given gift of creation, giving one human being power over another and
using another human being rather than caring for him or her. We condemn
these acts because they demean a child of God by coercing him or her into
decision-making and practices that deny his or her equality and exploit his
or her weakness. We condemn these acts because they violate the commandment
upon which the whole law rests, to love as we have been loved: freely,
mutually, and wholly.
And for the same reasons we support same sex relationships that produce the
fruits of the kingdom. Because that is what it is aboutproducing the fruits
of the kingdom. "Where true charity and love dwell, God himself is there."
The dividing line between married and unmarried is a false, man-made one.
That the sexual relationship takes place within the bounds of marriage is no
guarantee of non-abusive, non-sinful, non-exploitative sexual relationships.
Likewise there is no guarantee, as Mr. LeBlanc supposes, that non-marital
ones are abusive, sinful, and exploitative.
Members of Integrity and other gay and lesbian people within the Church will
continue to hold up our relationships with the conviction that they too
produce the fruits of the kingdom. We will do this at the same time we weep
with the victims of abuse and exploitation and continue the struggle to end
such practices in all relationships.
And we will continue to support some form of celebration for our
relationships, because what is good should be celebrated. And we will
continue to believe that is a fundamental part of the fight to end abuse and
exploitation. Hold up the good. Hold up the light. The darkness will flee
away.
What happened in Brooklyn is not about us. It is not about Integrity. It
is, in fact, about as far from integrity as one can get. Can we all name
that together and not use this tragedy to beat up on one another?
The Rev. Michael Hopkins is Vicar of St. Georges Church, Glenn Dale,
Maryland, the Diocese of Washington, and Director of Communications for
Integrity, Inc.
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 17:05:16 -0500
Return to the Table of Contents
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 21:45:35 -0500
From: Neil Houghton
Subject: Diocese of Long Island Response
Bishop Howe,
I have extracted two paragraphs from the letter to which you were a signatory.
- Some will surely object that they have made no endorsement of
- promiscuous and predatory behavior, but only that which is faithful and
- committed, as in the ideal of heterosexual marriage. But they ignore the
- overwhelming evidence that, even for Church people, long-term faithful
- monogamous relationships among homosexual couples are extraordinarily
- rare.
- Without question there are those few who have lived lives of
- faithfulness and stability, but the evidence is beyond dispute that for
- all but the tiniest minority, the homosexual lifestyle, especially among
- males, is a compulsive, promiscuous addiction that leads almost
- inevitably to illness and death. The folly of a Church that would
- presume to call it a "wholesome example" is now being discussed in one
- of America's most salacious pornographic magazines.
You just don't get it, do you? The head in the sand, judgemental approach
to sexuality and misinterpretation of the gospel of Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ is the reason that much of your analysis is painfully close to
the truth. Not the depraved lifestyle that you would have people believe
is a result of the choice to live a homosexual lifestyle. Cause and effect
you have seriously twisted. Your letter falls back on a thinly veiled
"AIDS as the punishment of God."
As one of those "minority" struggling to maintain a monogamous relationship
(for 15 years) I must say that I could benefit along with all other
Christians, gay or non-gay, if you and your colleagues would put your
efforts into a positive prayer that we all will see a more moral and loving
world through the Grace of God.
I shall redouble my efforts to pray for my enemies in hopes that your eyes
may be opened.
Neil Houghton, Diocese of Rochester, NY
+++++++++ Neil Houghton
+ + Robert Masterson
+ + One Village Trail
+ + Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
+ 716.624.4225
Return to the Table of Contents
by JW NUNLEY
RE: Terry Mattingly's religion column for 10/30/96.
I'm as disgusted and horrified by the Penthouse story as it's possible to
be. But as a propaganda vehicle for an assault on lesbigay Christians, their
committed relationships and ministries, it breaks down before it even gets
out of the parking lot. Let's get the facts, at least, "straight"...
Terry Mattingly reports:
"The expose centers on the testimony of Wasticlinio Barros and Jairo
Pereira, two Brazilian males in their mid-20s. They say they were brought to
America and pressed into joining sexual orgies led by the Rev. William Lloyd
Andries at the altar of St. Gabriel's Parish in Brooklyn."
Wasticlinio Barros may initially have been "pressed" into the sordid circle,
but the article clearly states that he moved out of Andries' home two months
after arriving in the U.S. -- and then agreed to fly back to Brazil for
Andries to recruit more "boys" (actually, grown men, it should be
noted). Then he flew back to the U.S. -- and was paid "several thousand
dollars" for furniture, rent, expenses and a $3000 "finder's fee." When the
first group of men Barros brought back refused to cooperate, Barros flew
back to Brazil yet again -- and checked into a drug rehab center in his
hometown of Recife for six months to try to get over the cocaine habit he'd
acquired in the U.S. Then he returned to Brooklyn with the man Andries is
said to have "married," Jairo Pereira. That's two round trips to Brazil and
back, including a six-month stay at home in between, all expenses paid. If
he found Andries & Co. so distasteful, why didn't Barros just stay put when
he got home the first time?
This is no "Lost in America" scenario, with an innocent foreigner who
doesn't speak the language (Barros claims fluency in three, including
English) corrupted by a big bad American priest who kept him locked in the
church basement. Barros appears to be a hustler and pimp practically from
the git-go. When he first encountered a flustered Howard Williams looking
for the number of the American Embassy at the Buenos Aires phone company
building, why didn't he simply ask the clerks there (who presumably have
phone books) and translate that for Howard -- instead of walking Howard
outside and using his own cellular phone to call Directory Assistance? And
why would he give out his cell phone number to two American strangers? Think
about it, folks. There's something fishy here.
Terry Mattingly continuess:
"Yes, Penthouse has photographs of both the ceremony and the sexual romp
that followed. In one X-rated scene, Andries appears to be wearing
liturgical garb."
Penthouse may say they have 'em, but they didn't print 'em -- the
only photos
of "sexual romps" either feature Andries in the buff or in a jockstrap with
an Arab sheik's headdress on his head, encased in what appears to be clear
plastic. (Ugh.)
Terry Mattingly adds:
"'There's much more to this story of sex, money, cocaine and the "boys
from Brazil,"' writes former Washington Post gossip reporter
Rudy Maxa."
Maxa's a *gossip reporter*? Hardly a paragon of investigative journalistic
rigor, one would think.
Mattingly claims:
"They were playthings for priests whose commitment to the Scriptures had
long ago been replaced by a pursuit of pleasure that would have fit nicely
in Sodom and Gomorrah. . . Actually, this suggests that Penthouse has a more
conservative view of the Bible than can currently be defended under
Episcopal law."
Coming from Penthouse -- the high priests of hedonism (particularly, one
should note, of the hetero-male variety) -- that's some pretty heavy-duty
hypocrisy. If -- big "if" -- the story's true, the participants in this sick
little circle were clearly worshipping at Penthouse's own altar instead of
Christ's. Does Penthouse now cast the first stone at such faithful adherents
of its own religion?
Barros' and Pereira's story overall seems a little too neatly packaged -- too
calculated for maximum shock value.
- The level of detail is extraordinarily precise, in the studied manner of
sex-fantasy stories: the brand name of a moisturizing lotion . . . an
"Italian sparkling wine". . . the color and cut of various foundation
garments.
- There are several revealing references to the possible motivations of the
story's principal sources (indeed, only sources -- unless you count the
unnamed St. Gabriel's parishioner "who says she was aware of some of the
events," although we're not told which ones) , viz.: "[Barros] also began
hatching a plan to get the goods on 'the girls'". . . "'I never forgot my
idea of revenge'" . . . "Barros planned to get even...they could halt the
boys-from-Brazil operation and make some money by writing a book." Et
cetera. Thus virtually the entire story comes from a couple of guys who
planned from Day One to sell it to the highest bidder. There may well be a
nasty fire where this smoke leads, but "the boys from Brazil" have a big
credibility problem.
"Bad cases make bad law," and sensational stories told by sleazoids of
questionable veracity make a lousy theology of sexuality. Anyone who's
willing to descend to that level can condemn a whole people based on the
most egregious and extreme examples of abuse and irresponsibility in their
community. Proving that such is an common or acceptable norm in that
community is a harder task -- and one at which Mr. Mattingly and others
continue to fail due to the complete absence of reliable -- much less
irrefutable -- testimony. Such tactics are unworthy of people who presume to
call themselves Christians, and demean us all.
JW Nunley+
St. Peter's & St. Andrew's, Providence, RI
"It is not up to you to complete the task;
but you are not free to desist from it."
- Rabbi Tarfon/ Pirke Avot
Return to the Table of Contents
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 96 11:39:23 EST
EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE relayed by JAMES THRALL
Statement issued November 11, 1996, by Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning in
reponse to allegations about sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Long
Island
The allegations in a recent magazine article concerning events within the
Diocese of Long Island, if true, are outrageous. I, along with persons of
all faiths, deplore sexual exploitation and abuse of any kind.
As some in the church may not know, the role of the Presiding Bishop in the
affairs of a diocese is largely a pastoral one. I have endeavored,
nevertheless, to exercise my pastoral authority in this matter with care
and concern. Since the publication of this article, my staff and I have
been in frequent contact with the Bishop of Long Island, the Rt. Rev. Orris
G. Walker, Jr., and other lay and clergy leaders, and have made a number
of suggestions concerning appropriate diocesan response.
I can now report to you that the allegations are being addressed by the
diocese in the following ways. The priest from the Diocese of Long Island
mentioned by name in the article has resigned his rectorship and is under
discipline. The Diocese of Long Island, in their convention of November 9,
voted to support a full investigation in which the Standing Committee will
play an important role. Bishop Walker will ask Bishop O'Kelley Whitaker,
retired Bishop of Central New York, to head up the investigation, and
funding has been appropriated for retaining independent counsel to assist.
I fully support these actions of the bishop and elected clergy and lay
leaders of the Diocese.
I would like to note that members of our church have expressed sorrow that
the term of a former member of our staff, the Rev. Howard Williams, who has
done much good work on our behalf, came to such an unfortunate conclusion
when I asked for his resignation. Though his involvement was noted as
tangential in the magazine article that included the allegations, Howard
and I agreed that, given the circumstances, his ministry had been so
compromised that it was impossible for him to continue in his position.
I also deplore the fact that these allegations are being seized on by some
to inflame and polarize the ongoing already difficult discussion within our
church about the responsible, proper, and holy expression of sexuality.
The alleged actions in Long Island are clearly outside acceptable
parameters, and should not be confused with our ongoing struggles about
sexuality. Attempts to link the two bring negative attention to our church
and pain to our gay and lesbian members. We must clearly differentiate
between issues of sexual abuse and exploitation, and sexual orientation.
The debates in our church are ongoing, as indeed they are in all churches
and in our society. We can give thanks that, for the most part, our church
is conducting these debates in ways that help us to discern God's will.
While the debate continues in areas of disagreement, we can all agree to
certain important things, among them: the dignity of every person must be
respected, and exploitation and abuse of any kind in any situation are
sinful and must not be condoned; our church has clear and stated boundaries
of clergy sexual behavior; the sanctity of marriage must be upheld; people
who take seriously the authority of scripture do not agree on what
constitutes responsible and holy sexuality.
In the larger context it should be noted that our church has been working
for many years on issues of sexual exploitation and abuse. Clear policy
statements and definitions have been developed by the Committee on Sexual
Exploitation and received by the General Convention in 1994. Resources
have been developed for dioceses to respond to these tragedies when they
occur, and most if not all dioceses have addressed the issue of sexual
exploitation and developed their own very clear guidelines. The Episcopal
Church has been considered pro- active in this area, rather than being
merely passive or solely reactive.
It is my prayer that, through the power of the Spirit, this painful
situation might serve as an opportunity for us as a church to reaffirm our
commitment to continue approaching the subject of human sexuality in all
its complex aspects in openness, in faith in Godžs guidance of our church,
and in respect for the dignity of every human being.
The Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning
Presiding Bishop
November 11, 1996
Return to the Table of Contents
The following letter from Bishop Lee is being mailed today to all canonical
clergy, parochial clergy under license, junior and senior wardens, and
members of Annual Council. The Executive Board will meet today at Roslyn
and will receive this letter at that meeting.
For additional information, call Sarah Bartenstein at the Mayo Memorial
Church House, 800/DIOCESE.
November 7, 1996
To: The Clergy and Lay Leaders of the Diocese of Virginia
Dear Friends,
The most recent issue of Penthouse magazine contains a voyeuristic and
salacious article that describes outrageous and scandalous homosexual
behavior
on the part of one Episcopal priest who is named and several others who are
not identified. A member of the staff of the Episcopal Church Center, who
resigned days after the article appeared, is named as meeting the principal
characters but the article does not implicate him in the sexual behavior
described.
The priest named in the article has renounced his ministry and was deposed by
the Bishop of Long Island on October 31, 1996. The Bishop of Long Island has
called for an investigation by the Chancellor's office of that diocese.
The Presiding Bishop has asked for a prompt investigation as well. Under our
canons, the Presiding Bishop has limited authority to exercise disciplinary
action in any diocese. The discipline of clergy is a diocesan
responsibility.
We need more clarity in our national canons and structure to assure the
>accountability of Bishops.
I have asked the Presiding Bishop to make every effort to investigate this
matter. There is no place in this church for behavior that exploits others.
The Diocese of Virginia has a clear process for responding swiftly to
complaints regarding clergy misbehavior. We expect clergy to be wholesome
examples to our people. The behavior described in Long Island, even
acknowledging that some of the allegations may be excessive or unfounded, is
intolerable.
I have read some internet responses to the Penthouse article that imply that
such behavior is to be expected in a church where there is debate about the
place of gays and lesbians in the church. The behavior described is
outrageous, wrong and sinful. But to characterize all gay and lesbian
persons
in our church as somehow tainted by the scandal is itself wrong and unfair,
and demonstrates a manipulation of this scandal for political and ideological
purposes.
Our diocese is clear in its teaching that the normative context for sexual
intimacy is lifelong, heterosexual, monogamous marriage. And we are
compassionate in helping our brothers and sisters whose life experiences are
different from that norm to live lives of dignity and wholeness informed by
Christian standards. Those brothers and sisters include gay and lesbian
persons, as well as those--far more numerous--who are divorced and remarried.
I abhor the scandalous behavior that is described in Penthouse. I encourage
proper diocesan and national church authorities to investigate it thoroughly.
And I ask all of our people to examine our own lives to assure that we are
credible witnesses in word and deed to the power of Christ's forgiveness and
the hope of his resurrection.
>Faithfully yours,
Peter James Lee
Return to the Table of Contents
From: vincentl@fast.net (Bill Lewellis)
Subject: Bishop Paul Marshall's letter/op-ed
To: episcopal.communicators.topic@ecunet.org
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 96 07:43 EST
BISHOP PAUL MARSHALL'S LETTER/OP-ED
Thought you might want to see this response.
Bill
############################
To: The cybercommunity, BETHLEHEM OF PA
From: Bill Lewellis
The two pieces below are from Bishop Paul: (1) An email preface, and (2) A
letter to the editor/op-ed sent to the Morning Call, Allentown, the Reading
Eagle-Times, and the Scranton Times. These are newspapers that ran the
column by Mike McManus or Terry Mattingly on the Penthouse magazine story.
If you know of any other papers in the Diocese of Bethlehem where either
column appeared, please let me know.
Please feel free to port what appears below anywere so long as you port
both the email preface and the letter/op-ed. Thank you.
***********************
November 8, 1996
Brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Bethlehem:
There follows a response to the Mike McManus and Terry Mattingly columns,
which last Saturday so severely blasted the Episcopal Church in general
over the tragic incident by which Penthouse magazine is hoping to increase
its December circulation. Let me add a few in-house comments.
I am also writing to you because, like most bishops in the church, I was
given no input into the organized responses to the situation Penthouse
reports. I am too new in the House of Bishops to know why this is the case.
I want to make certain that you understand that my reply comes from an
ecclesial concern, not a sexual agenda. The response says that in
Northeastern Pennsylvania, at least, you look at a very different sort of
story to discover the nature of the Episcopal Church.
Please also be crystal clear that I have not written to condone what is
said to have gone on in Brooklyn: the priest involved does not even do
that. My concern is with the callous exploitation of a tragedy to peddle
magazines or newspaper columns, as it is with the exploitation of the
incident to advance a partisan agenda or further pillory our Presiding
Bishop.
I very much hope that you will include prayers for all those caught up in
this situation in your intercessions this Sunday.
Faithfully yours,
Paul V. Marshall
Bishop
****************************
November 7, 1996
THE MORNING CALL
To the editor:
If you believe a recent story in Penthouse, an Episcopal priest in Brooklyn
married a male lover during an orgy in church. If you believe the priest,
no desecration of sacred space took place. He was "used by two hustlers"
and intends to sue Penthouse for its "tissue of lies." If you believe an
issue-oriented group called Episcopalians United, quick to quote
unsubstantiated details from Penthouse, the Episcopal Church is guilty of
condoning lurid behavior.
Whom do you trust? As you read this, few know what happened in St.
Gabriel's Church in the Diocese of Long Island. Investigations are
underway. The real story, however, may be not so much what happened there
as why certain reflexes jerk toward every opportunity to press an agenda,
capitalizing even on the suffering of the body of Christ to win the day.
The real story may be the harm that results from claims to own biblical
truth and orthodox Christian teaching.
The Penthouse story would not have been mainstreamed into the legitimate
press were it not for two columnists and a tricky word that works in court
but is missed by many readers: allegedly. The syndicated column of Mike
McManus was published in The Morning Call, Saturday, November 2. Terry
Mattingly writes his column for the Scripps Howard News Service.
Drawing solely on Penthouse, Mattingly called the story "the latest twist
in the convoluted story of the Episcopalians and their evolving teachings
on sex." McManus incorporated into his column a statement of 27 bishops and
an Episcopalians United editorial, both of which drew solely on Penthouse
for their "facts." (There are more than 300 bishops in the Episcopal
Church.)
Some people and groups in our church have not forgiven Presiding Bishop
Edmond Browning for suggesting earlier this year that the lives of "gay men
and women in committed relationships [can be] wholesome examples." They
have taken every opportunity to suggest that the Episcopal Church, which
has twice refused in General Convention to condemn those engaged in
committed same-sex relationships, is on the brink of moral anarchy.
Approaching next summer's General Convention, those groups may pursue their
agenda by putting some wicked spin on the Episcopal Church.
If you want to know what's going on in the Episcopal Church, don't get it
from issue-possessed groups or from warmed-over Penthouse fare dressed up
as journalism. Go to an Episcopal church near you. Ask the folks there how
they praise God in their communities.
You will find people helping people in need. You will find people welcoming
the marginalized and caring for the oppressed. You will find food banks and
soup kitchens. You will find creative worship. You will find caregivers
reaching out to persons and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
You will find innovative ministries where parishioners reach out to
children at risk in their neighborhoods and communities. You will find
people bringing people to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.
You will find us, as we say in our baptismal covenant, continuing "in the
apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers." You will find us "proclaiming by word and example the Good News
of God in Christ." You will find us "seeking and serving Christ in all
persons." You will find us "striving for justice and peace among all
people, and respecting the dignity of every human being." That's the
Episcopal Church.
The porn for which Penthouse paid would not have been considered worthy of
a journalistic nod had not two columnists used sacred space (religion
columns in secular newspapers) to advance the agenda of fringe groups --
perhaps their own -- agenda too readily identified with the Word of God,
The Rt. Rev. Paul V. Marshall
Bishop of Bethlehem
Return to the Table of Contents
Rt. Rev. Claude Payne, Bishop of Texas
EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATORS NEWS by CAROL BARNWELL
The following was sent to clergy in the Diocese of Texas from Bishop Claude E.
Payne so that they could respond to any questions they might receive
concerning the article. No press release was made to the secular press:
MEMORANDUM
TO: THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF TEXAS
FROM: THE RIGHT REVEREND CLAUDE E. PAYNE, D.D.
SUBJECT:PENTHOUSE MAGAZINE ARTICLE
DATE: OCTOBER 31, 1996
The December issue of Penthouse Magazine, released October 29, alleges a most
blatant and profoundly immoral scenario of sexual misconduct on the part of a
number of men, including several Episcopal priests. Such stories are always
demoralizing to the faithful, and can both undermine faith and our common
witness to the faith.
Included in the allegations are the overt desecration of a church, a gross and
absolutely flagrant misuse of the priestly office, demeaning sexual
exploitation, and the willful abandonment of any sense of Christian morality.
That the men were homosexual and bisexual establishes the potential for
shifting appropriate response away from the wanton nature of the alleged
offenses and toward the ongoing battle in Church and society over sexuality.
Regardless of how people stand on sexuality issues, that is not central in
this instance to the flagrantly degrading use of the sacred by those duly
chosen to uphold the sacred.
Yet it clearly points to the historic Christian doctrine of sin which
forcefully maintains that the powers of lust and degradation infect all. This
is why standards are so absolutely necessary, not because we can always live
up to them, but that we will have a higher goal for which to dedicate our very
lives.
The good that can come to us in the Diocese of Texas from such a story,
whether in this instance it is completely true or not, is a renewed awareness
of the ongoing need for high moral standards, for divine forgiveness, and a
savior, all of which the secular often tends to ignore or discredit. Beyond
awareness, there should be renewed dedication to investigate possible
misdoings and when discovered, to deal swiftly with the offended and the
offender, to minimize further damage and to begin the healing process for
each.
The most tragic thing which could come from this story is the use of it to
detract our dedication to live exemplary lives, dedicated to the Lord Jesus
Christ, all within our community of miraculous expectation, and focused on
those in need. That this has happened, or might happen again, should not be
given the power to neutralize, marginalize or diminish our own zeal or
dedication to the Lord whom we serve.
Return to the Table of Contents
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 13:35:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Diocese of El Camino Real - California
Subject: (ecrNews-L) The Bishop's Friday Letter - 10/30/96
October 30, 1996
To the Parochial Clergy
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Penthouse, arguably America's most lurid "men's magazine",
has plenty of bad news for Episcopalians involving several
clergy in the Diocese of Long Island. What are we to do
when clergy of our tradition are featured in a disgusting
story with photos? Probably do our best to discipline the
offenders, protect the innocent and hold onto a shred or two
of moral rectitude. The Presiding Bishop has no jurisdiction
except over one person (named in Penthouse but explicitly
not implicated) who works at Mission House (815) and
whom Ed has placed on administrative leave until the matter
is clarified as to his involvement.
We, the clergy and people, can/will be either victim or victor
in this, which pretty much depends on us. Eugene O'Neil
wrote, "It is a broken world of broken men and women who
live by mending, and the grace of God is the glue." I am
aware of the loathing I know we all sense when we confront,
unmasked, the writhing elements of life beneath the surface.
I felt the temptation to rush to Platonism and the soothing
separation of good and evil. My old professor said that even
ill winds blow good, and this feels like an ill wind blowing
for sure, so I struggle to hope for the good hidden in it and I
rejoice in Bishop Browning's resolve, within the limits of his
jurisdiction, to play a positive and moral role in helping all
concerned.
Faithfully your Bishop,
The Rt. Rev. Richard L. Shimpfky
RLS:sa
Return to the Table of Contents
November 9, 1996
A STATEMENT FROM THE BISHOP OF NEWARK
This Church of ours has in recent days undergone
another self-inflicted wound. Several clergy in the Diocese
of Long Island (of whom only one is named) are alleged in a
Penthouse magazine story to have violated a basic moral
code, as well as the integrity of their priesthood. This
story claims both predatory sexual behavior and activities
that call into question the sincerity of their commitment to
the faith they claim to profess. Such actions this Church
could never tolerate and still have ethical credibility. I
think it is fair to say that such behavior would be
condemned by both heterosexual and homosexual Christians.
Perhaps equally distressing has been the effort of
certain conservative elements of our Church, including many
of those bishops who signed the presentment against Walter
Righter, to use this story to attack the integrity of all
homosexual people. These people assert that this type of
behavior is typical of homosexual people. They suggest that
homosexual people are not capable of permanent
relationships. They urge punitive action and repression
against all who have worked for justice for gay and lesbian
Christians. These conservative Christians seem not to be
aware that heterosexual behavior can also take bizarre,
predatory and destructive forms that this Church would never
affirm. They seem not to notice that almost one out of
every two heterosexual marriages ends up in divorce, or that
faithfulness in heterosexual relationships is deeply
compromised in today’s world. This is not to suggest that
such behavior should be excused because of its prevalence.
It is rather a sign of the fragility of values present in
this society to which this Church must speak. We remind
people of these facts, however, in order to reveal the depth
of the irrational, hostile homophobia that is present in the
judgment of those who are so eager to purge gay and lesbian
people from this Church.
In the face of this reported destructive behavior on
the part of a group of Long Island clergy, as well as this
highly prejudiced and inflammatory rhetoric coming from the
Church’s conservative wing, I reiterate the position of the
Diocese of Newark, as proclaimed in
The Koinonia Statement
adopted by our Diocesan Convention in January of 1996:
“. . .We believe that sex is a gift of God.
“We believe that some of us are created heterosexual
and some of us are created homosexual.
“We believe that both homosexuality and heterosexuality
are morally neutral, that both can be lived out with beauty,
honor, holiness and integrity, and that both are capable of
being lived out destructively.
“We believe that wherever sexuality is lived out
destructively, this church must witness to its negativity.
We oppose all forms of promiscuous sex, predatory sex, sex
that does not honor one’s partner or that does not hold that
partner in commitment and love.
“We believe that marriage is to be held in honor and
that marriage presents the highest form of human commitment
that a man and a woman can make to each other. We believe
that through marriage both the husband and wife are called
to holiness.
“We believe that celibacy is an honorable vocation for
some of God’s people and that those who have chosen to live
in celibacy for whatever reason have gifts to give that will
enrich both the church and the social order.
“But we also believe that those who know themselves to
be gay or lesbian persons, and who do not choose to live
alone, but forge relationships with partners of their choice
that are faithful, monogamous, committed, life giving and
holy are to be honored. We will continue to relate to these
couples with our support, our pastoral care, our prayers and
our recognition, in whatever form is deemed appropriate,
that God is indeed present in their life together.
“We also believe that the ordained ranks of this church
are open to all baptized Christians, and that through our
regular screening process, we will determine who is both
called and qualified. We are aware of the presence in the
church of gay and lesbian clergy. We bear witness to the
fact that they have served and continue to serve this church
with effectiveness and integrity. Some of them are single,
many more of them are living in committed partnerships.
They serve this church today as bishops, priests and
deacons. In all these orders, they have won the respect of
their ecclesial communities. . . .
“We pledge to these clergy, whom we honor as part of
this church, our support and protection, and we will
continue to hold them to no standard higher than that we
would hold any heterosexual priest whether he or she be
single or married. . . .
“Let there be no misunderstanding, both our lives and
our experience as bishops have convinced us that a wholesome
example to the flock of Christ does not exclude a person of
homosexual orientation, nor does it exclude those homosexual
persons who choose to live out their sexual orientation in a
partnership that is marked by faithfulness and life-giving
holiness. . . .”
I further request that this statement be read in our
churches where questions have been raised about this entire
bizarre episode.
The Rt. Rev. John S. Spong
Bishop of Newark
November 9, 1996
Return to the Table of Contents
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 18:25:17 -0500
Subject: EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE Note 1596 by ENS
Statement from Bishop Orris Walker of Long Island to the clergy and wardens
of his diocese regarding the Penthouse magazine article
An article containing serious allegations against the Reverend William
Lloyd Andries has been published in the December issue of Penthouse
magazine. I have seen this story and its reading has distressed me deeply.
As a result, I invited Father Andries to meet with me on Friday,
October 25, in the presence of one of my vice chancellors. It was
imperative that we make every effort to determine the truth of the
assertions to be found in this article. To that end, I am calling for an
investigation of this most disturbing situation by the Chancellor's Office,
and have accepted the resignation of Father Andries' Orders and, thus, his
rectorship, effective today. In this way, Father Andries was able to bid
farewell to his beloved congregation yesterday.
Please pray for the Church and all those within it.
Orris G. Walker
Bishop of Long Island
Return to the Table of Contents
Subj: Bishops respond
Date: 96-10-30 17:02:03 EST
From: DLLeBlanc
To: DLLeBlanc
Where It Is Corrupt, Purify It
"That night was Barros's introduction to a secret cadre of gay and
bisexual cross-dressing Episcopal priests whose private lives include
the most bizarre rituals, often performed before the altars of darkened
churches... They were... priests whose commitment to the Scriptures had
long
ago been replaced by a pursuit of pleasure that would have fit nicely in
Sodom and Gomorrah."
Penthouse, December 1996, page 42
The current issue of Penthouse magazine paints a horrifying and
revolting picture of homosexual sex and sadism, pederasty and perversion
among a group of Episcopal clergy in the Diocese of Long Island. If it
is even marginally accurate it should prompt believers to fall upon
their faces before the Lord, with tears of contrition for the Church.
St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about those who "have lost all
sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to
practice every kind of impurity." (Eph. 4:19) But what he says is too
"shameful even to mention" (Eph. 5:12) Penthouse spells out in lurid,
shocking, stomach-turning detail -- with pictures!
The news is sickening, indeed. But it is hardly surprising. At the last
General Convention, the Bishop of Long Island, the Right Rev'd Orris
Walker, said that a significant number of Episcopalians in his diocese
are single, whether by choice or circumstance. "Is this Church going to
say to them that sexual intimacy for them is abnormal if it does not
occur within a marriage?" he asked. "If this Church expects me to go
back to the streets of Brooklyn and Queens with that one, it ain't going
to fly." (cf. United Voice, August 25, 1994)
Just this past spring the ecclesiastical Court for the Trial of a Bishop
declared that the Episcopal Church has "no doctrine" that would preclude
the ordination of sexually active homosexual persons. And for the past
eleven years, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most
Rev'd Edmond L. Browning, has repeated his watchword that "In this
Church there shall be no outcasts."
A denomination that will not uphold faithful monogamous heterosexual
marriage as the only legitimate context for sexual intimacy must not be
surprised when some of its members seek such intimacy elsewhere. A
Church that refuses to demand that even its clergy must conform to this
historic biblical standard should not be surprised when some of them
don't. And in a Church in which nearly half of the active Bishops have
declared their support -- in principle -- of the ordination of
non-celibate homosexual persons, we must not be surprised when some of
their clergy take them at their word.
Some will surely object that they have made no endorsement of
promiscuous and predatory behavior, but only that which is faithful and
committed, as in the ideal of heterosexual marriage. But they ignore the
overwhelming evidence that, even for Church people, long-term faithful
monogamous relationships among homosexual couples are extraordinarily
rare.
Without question there are those few who have lived lives of
faithfulness and stability, but the evidence is beyond dispute that for
all but the tiniest minority, the homosexual lifestyle, especially among
males, is a compulsive, promiscuous addiction that leads almost
inevitably to illness and death. The folly of a Church that would
presume to call it a "wholesome example" is now being discussed in one
of America's most salacious pornographic magazines.
Ironically, our lectionary readings for the past two Sundays have
included the first two chapters of St. Paul's first letter to the
Thessalonians. In chapter one he describes a remarkably beautiful
first-century church that became "a sort of sounding board from which
the Word of the Lord has rung out" to the whole of the surrounding area.
[J.B. Philips' translation] In chapter two he answers the unspoken
question: "what kind of ministry produced this kind of church?"
That is a question we Episcopalians cannot ignore as yet another scandal
rocks our denomination from top to bottom: "what kind of ministry has
produced this kind of Church?"
The Presiding Bishop's office has promised a thorough investigation an
complete disclosure of all the facts concerning this matter. We the
undersigned agree that we will settle for nothing less. Specifically, we
call upon the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to immediately
implement the following response:
- We call for a full, complete independent investigation and public
report to this Church regarding the acts alleged in the Penthouse
article to have been committed by Episcopal priests.
- We call for a review of Bishop Walker's role in this scandal,
particularly regarding the way he responded -- or failed to respond-- to
"rumors" brought to his attention in this matter.
- We call for full disclosure regarding the involvement, if any, of the
Rev'd Howard Williams, a member of the Presiding Bishop's staff,
responsible for children's ministry, named in the Penthouse article.
- We call upon the General Convention and the conventions of the
dioceses of the Episcopal Church severally to provide clear and binding
standards regarding the sexual behavior of clergy.
We invite all those in agreement with these sentiments to add their
signatures to ours, and sending them to The Executive Council of the
Episcopal Church, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
+ Keith L. Ackerman (Quincy)
+ John F. Ashby (W. Kansas, ret.)
+ C. FitzSimmons Allison (SC, ret.)
+ David S. Ball (Albany)
+ Maurice M. Benitez (Texas, ret.)
+ Anselmo Carral (Ass't. Texas, ret.)
+ Robert H. Cochrane (Olympia, ret.)
+ James M. Coleman (W. Tennessee)
+ William J. Cox (Ass't. Oklahoma)
+ Alex D. Dickson, Jr. (W. Tenn., ret.)
+ Robert W. Duncan (Coadj., Pittsburgh)
+ Herbert D. Edmondson (Jamaica, ret.)
+ Leopold Frade (Honduras)
+ Wm. C. Frey (Colorado, ret.)
+ R. Heber Gooden (Panama, ret.)
+ Jack Leo Iker (Ft. Worth)
+ Robert J. Hargrove (W. Louisiana)
+ John W. Howe (Central Florida)
+ Russell E. Jacobus (Fond du Lac)
+ Stephen H. Jecko (Florida)
+ Terrence Kelshaw (Rio Grande)
+ Hugo L. Pina-Lopez (Ass't. C. Florida)
+ John-David Schofield (San Joaquin)
+ Wm. C.R. Sheridan (Indiana, ret.)
+ James M. Stanton (Dallas)
+ Robert P. Varley (Nebraska, ret.)
+ William C. Wantland (Eau Claire)
Return to the Table of Contents
Executive Council's Response
via EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE by JAMES THRALL
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL response to the alleged events in the Diocese of Long
Island. (as revised and approved by Council 11/11/96 - Toronto)
Whereas, the Executive Council is grateful for all those in the Church who
have worked to produce policies and procedures to address occurrences of
sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as those who are serving on Pastoral
Response Teams in most Dioceses throughout this Church; and
Whereas, having have been informed by the Presiding Bishop, his Chancellor,
the Bishop for Pastoral Development of the House of Bishops, we affirm the
timely implementation of their response; therefore,
Resolved, that the Executive Council joins with the Presiding Bishop in
deploring the recently reported incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse
of sacred trust;
Resolved, that we affirm and prayerfully support the reported actions taken
thus far by the Bishop, clergy and lay leadership of the Diocese of Long
Island to investigate thoroughly and act in this matter and assure them of
our prayers and concerns;
Resolved, while we recognize that the Presiding Bishop has no canonical
authority to intervene in this matter, we commend him for his pastoral
oversight and the timely attention he has given to this matter;
Resolved, that we deplore any effort to use these allegations to inflame
and polarize the ongoing difficult discussion within our church about the
responsible, proper, and holy expression of sexuality;
Resolved, that we affirm the continuation of healthy and responsible
conversations addressing the complex issues of human sexuality and clearly
differentiate between issues of sexual abuse and exploitation and sexual
orientation;
Resolved, that we ask all members of the Church to pray for healing for all
affected by these allegations.
Return to the Table of Contents
Louie Crew. Newark, NJ.
Innocents Abroad? Apparently not. Penthouse's so-called "boys from
Brazil," who are actually in their late '20s, refused to cooperate with
the Diocese of Long Island's investigation (headed by retired Bishop
O'Kelley Whitaker) unless they were paid to do so. (They told the press
that they would fully cooperate!)
There may be other reasons as well -- the prime source, Mr. Baros, had
several run-ins with the law in Brazil for other scam operations.
It appears increasingly likely that Bob Gucione will pay dearly for his
sloppiness in failing to check sources.
Note that claims on the net of "additional revelations" which were
purported to be "even bigger" have never materialized.
It now appears that Penthouse may have hired an investigator who falsely
claims to be working as part of the diocesan investigation to try to come
up with substantiation for the story. They should have done that
beforehand and saved themselves a lot of money -- and the church a lot of
anguish.
Lutibelle/Louie
1/20/97
Return to the Table of Contents
The Ring of Lies: ECUSA according Estado de Sao Paulo
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 97 16:18:16 -0400
From: Kim Byham byham.k@nypa.gov
The Ring of Lies
I hope that people will take time to read this "news" report carefully. If
anyone thinks this has even a modicum of truth in it ("the ring of truth"),
I'd love to hear how you reached that conclusion.
The bishop of Southwestern Brazil sent this article to the Church's
Anglican Global Relations Office. I'm not sure whether the translation
was done in Brazil or at the Church Center.
This report appeared in Estado de Sao Paulo, a major Brazilian daily, on
May 22.
Brazilians Request Police Protection in the United States
[The subtitle is not translated and the byline is not legible on the copy of
the article]
New York - Police of the 70th Precinct in Brooklyn are protecting
Brazilians Wasticlinio Barros, 25, and Jairo Pereira, 32. They allege
having been persecuted/harassed/hounded (depending on translation)
since May 14 by four men, two of whom already identified as
ex-priests of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. Police believe the
"persecution" is aimed at intimidating them [the Brazilians] and impeding
the publication of the book Demons in Cassocks, a report by Barros
about a sexual scandal involving 22 religious figures in the
church.
Barros and Pereira named as their "persecutors" ex-priests Lloyd
Andries and Howard Williams. The original copy of the book was stolen
from Barros' house last month, but he had [other] copies of the material.
The two Brazilians were recruited in Brazil by the church to work in St.
Gabriel's parish in Brooklyn. But, according to the charges published by
Penthouse Magazine in October, they wound up as part of a male
prostitution ring organized by the then priest Andries.
After compromising photos were published, the church fired Andries. In
November, Barros and Pereira instituted a sexual abuse suit against the
Episcopal Church for $5 million. Details of the Brazilians involvement with
the 22 religious figures are in Barros' book, co-authored by the American
journalist, Jessie Borgs (?). In explicit language and with photos, Barros
describes sexual orgies on the altars of the Brooklyn parish.
Today, Pereira lives clandestinely in the U.S. Barros, married to an
American woman, sent his wife away to his parents' house. He attends
classes at the Academy of Film in New York. Since he has a proposal
before HBO for filming his book, he is preparing himself for a future role.
It is probable that the church will settle the suit rather than go to court.
Propelling a settlement is the determination of Barros to publish his book.
The church will agree to pay only if the book is embargoed.
There are a FEW problems with this account:
- No lawsuit in any amount has been initiated by Barros or Pereira
against the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Long Island, any parish,
any priest, or any lay employee of the church. The statute of limitations
on bringing a "a sexual abuse suit" expired on May 9, 1997 -- one year
after Barros and Pereira moved out of St. Gabriel's rectory.
Thus, the "conclusion" reached by the newspaper reporter that the
Episcopal Church will "settle rather than go to court" is at once
irresponsible journalism and completely false. There is nothing to "settle"
since Barros and Pereira have not and now cannot bring a
lawsuit.
It is worth noting that Barros and Pereira did retain, on a contingent fee
basis [meaning he would have kept a percentage of the take] a New
Jersey lawyer named Stephen Rubino. Mr. Rubino, you may recall,
represented the late Steven Cook in his sexual abuse lawsuit against the
late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. After several discussions with
attorneys for the Episcopal Church, Mr. Rubino decided not to file a
lawsuit on behalf of Barros and Pereira. Rubino is obviously not
deterred simply by a lack of evidence -- you will recall that the charges
against Bernardin came out of hypnotic recall of "repressed
memories" induced by a non-psychologist recommended by Rubino. It is
notable that Mr. Rubino thought that it simply wasn't worth his time to
pursue this "case." Too bizarre a tail even for him!
- A check yesterday (6/2/97) with the New York Police Department's
70th Precinct in Brooklyn revealed no record of either Barros or Pereira
filing a complaint charging harassment nor any record of Barros
reporting stolen property.
- The New York Film Academy, which teaches filmmaking, not acting,
has no record of Mr. Barros ever having been a student there.
- Intensive searches of Lexis/Nexis and Internet sources has revealed
no listings for any writer named Jessie Borgs or any variation of spelling
of that name. Assistance on this would be appreciated if anyone knows
of any writers with this name.
It is probable, of course, that the book does not exist any more than the
lawsuit.
5) Howard Williams is still a priest. He lost his job but not his Holy
Orders.
I would appreciate any additional information anyone can supply. Much
will be happening on this matter within the next two weeks.
Kim Byham, pro bono counsel for Dr. Lloyd Andries
byham.k@nypa.gov
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Dr. William Lloyd Andries
Former Rector, St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HEADLINE:INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWS PENTHOUSE
ALLEGATIONS WITHOUT SUPPORT
New York, New York, June 13, 1997
The report issued on June 10 by the special investigative team
headed by retired Bishop O'Kelley Whitaker examined in detail the
allegations made in the December 1996 issue of Penthouse Magazine
concerning supposed activities of the Rev. Dr. William Lloyd Andries,
then Rector of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. The report
lists 38 allegations. Of these, the reports finds 22 to be completely
untrue or unproven and nine more to include untruths. This includes all
of the defamatory allegations that have been the subject of media
attention.
The conclusions reached by the committee included:
- Sexual orgies did not occur in the church. The report stated
that this was virtually impossible. There are large clear-glass windows
which make the interior of the church visible from neighboring apartment
buildings. The investigation turned up no substantiation from church
staff or parishioners that such activities occurred in the heavily used
facility.
- No young Brazilian men were imported for sexual
purposes. The article alleged that Dr. Andries paid for the airfare of
seven Brazilian men on two occasions, who were supposedly brought
to the United States to serve as male prostitutes. Two of these were
Barros and Pereira. The other five are listed in the article only by first
name. The investigation found absolutely no substantiation for the
existence of the five. It also found no support for the claim that Andries
paid for airfare for either Barros or Pereira.
- There was no desecration of the sacraments of the
Church. Nothing else received as much attention in church circles as
did the claims of "sexual baptisms", orgies in ecclesiastical vestments,
and misuse of the Eucharistic host. The investigation found no support
for any of these claims.
- There was no use of drugs. No one contacted had ever
known Dr. Andries to use drugs of any kind (other than alcohol on a
social basis) and his attitude toward avoiding even over-the-counter
drugs made these claims non-credible.
- There was no cabal of priests who shared sexual
partners. Dr. Andries has many friends among the clergy. He has a
number of friends who are gay men, some of whom are "in the closet"
and others who are not. There was no evidence that they ever had any
get-togethers of a sexual nature, nor did they share sexual partners.
- Only two of Penthouse's 38 allegations were found to be fully
true -- the Rev. Howard Williams picked Wasticlinio Barros up at
Kennedy airport on his first arrival in the United States and Jairo Periera
was baptized at St. Gabriel's. Four others were actually statements
about how the article came to be written and did not contain allegations
about Dr. Andries.
"I feel fully vindicated," said Dr. Andries in a statement. "I am
deeply grateful for the report of Bishop Whitaker on behalf of the
Standing Committee of the Diocese of Long Island. It confirms what I said
in my November 1, 1996 statement to the press.
"While reaffirming my own foolishness in being taken in by two
con-men, I cannot excuse the reckless behavior of Bob Guccione and
other members of the media in publishing these lies. I trust that this
impartial report will finally eliminate any credibility for their claims.
"I was never presented with the allegations made against me by
Penthouse Magazine or its agents. The first time I learned of the
allegations of orgies in the church, drug use, etc. was as a result of an
inquiry from gossip columnists for the Daily News on the eve of
publication of the December issue of Penthouse. Even when I learned of
the charges, they seemed so incredible that I barely knew how to
respond."
The actions of Barros and Pereira, which they admitted in the
Penthouse article and in an interview on Brazilian television were
motivated by a desire to make money, had consequences they could not
have foreseen. Right-wing elements, including bishops, within the
Episcopal Church and in the Church of England attempted to exploit the
ridiculous claims in Penthouse to their own ends. Various
ultra-conservative bishops hired independent investigators whose
mission it was to corroborate the allegations. They were totally
unsuccessful. Indeed, their findings ultimately helped to support the
findings the official investigative team had made.
At the time that the Penthouse article appeared, a lawyer
speaking on behalf of the Brazilian men making the allegations claimed
that they would sue the Episcopal Church. Quoted at the conclusion of
the report is a Brazilian newspaper article which claimed Mr. Barros had
initiated a $5 million lawsuit against the Church. That has not happened.
No lawsuit in any amount has been initiated by Barros or Pereira against
Dr. Andries, the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Long Island, any
parish, any priest, or any lay employee of the church
Messrs. Barros and Pereira did retain, on a contingent fee basis,
a New Jersey lawyer named Stephen Rubino. Mr. Rubino represented
the late Steven Cook in his spurious and unsuccessful sexual abuse
lawsuit against the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago. After
several discussions with attorneys for the Episcopal Church, Mr. Rubino
did not file a lawsuit on behalf of Barros and Pereira.
Dr. Andries reports that he is continuing to pursue appropriate
legal remedies now that the report has been issued
-30-
CONTACT:
Brooklyn, New York
Edgar Kim Byham
Office: (212) 468-6136
Home: (201) 868-2485
Fax: (212) 468-6272
byham.k@nypa.gov
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Quean Lutibelle's Response
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you
no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration
of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify
your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BCP
355)
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