wfn.org | Long Island action on sexual miscon

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December 5, 1996
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

96-1631
Long Island action on sexual misconduct allegations draws strong support

by James H. Thrall
     (ENS) Action by the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island launching an
independent investigation into recent allegations of sexual misconduct by
clergy won praise from Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning and the
church's Executive Council.
     The diocese's annual convention, November 9, set aside up to
$100,000 to look into claims by two Brazilian men that the Rev. William
Lloyd Andries of St. Gabriel's Church in Brooklyn brought them to the
United States to be sexual partners for a group of homosexual and bisexual
clergy. According to an article in Penthouse magazine, the Brazilian men
claim that the priests engaged in drug use and sexual orgies in St. Gabriel's.
     In a letter shared with the Executive Council at its meeting in
Toronto, November 7-11, and then sent to all dioceses, Browning expressed
his full support for the diocese's actions. If true, the allegations "are
outrageous," Browning said. "I, along with persons of all faiths, deplore
sexual exploitation and abuse of any kind."
     Browning noted that while his role in the affairs of a diocese is
"largely a pastoral one," he has been in frequent contact with Bishop Orris
Walker of Long Island and other lay and clergy leaders in Long Island, and
has "made a number of suggestions concerning appropriate diocesan
response."
     As a result of the convention's action, Browning said, Walker will
ask Bishop O'Kelley Whitaker, retired bishop of Central New York, to
oversee the investigation, and independent counsel will be retained.

Executive Council expresses support
     In a resolution drafted in support of Browning's letter, the Executive
Council affirmed 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."
     The council joined Browning in "deploring the recently reported
incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse of sacred trust." The council also
echoed Browning's condemnation of "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," and
affirmed "the continuation of healthy and responsible conversations
addressing the complex issues of human sexuality." 
     Both Browning and the council underscored the need to "clearly
differentiate between issues of sexual abuse and exploitation, and sexual
orientation." The alleged actions in Long Island "are clearly outside
acceptable parameters, and should not be confused with our ongoing
struggles about sexuality," Browning said.
     The council commended Browning for "his pastoral oversight and the
timely attention he has given to this matter," and expressed appreciation for
the prompt report on the situation given to the council by Browning,
Chancellor David Beers and Bishop Harold Hopkins, bishop for pastoral
development in the House of Bishops.

St. Gabriel's priest resigned
     Since the allegations were made, Andries has resigned as rector of
St. Gabriel's and is under discipline, Browning related in his letter. Bishop
James Ottley, the Anglican Communion's Observer to the United Nations,
has stepped in at the parish to provide oversight and to be available to
members of the congregation for counseling. 
     Andries has denied many of the allegations in the article and has
declared his intention to sue Penthouse magazine for libel.
     Browning also related 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." While Williams,
who had served as coordinator of children's ministries, was mentioned in
the article as tangentially involved, the principal Brazilian source told
Penthouse that he had no reason to believe Williams had any involvement
with Andries's sexual activities. Nonetheless, "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," Browning said.
     Williams has admitted that he was present at St. Gabriel's rectory for
a ceremony blessing the same-sex union between Andries and one of the
two Brazilian men, but maintains that he neither participated in, nor had any
knowledge of, group sex activities or drug use in the church or rectory. An
earlier statement by Browning mentioning his resignation, Williams said,
could be interpreted to suggest that he was more closely involved, which
would "obscure the truth and tarnish my name."

Bishops offer pastoral words 
     Bishops throughout the Episcopal Church have issued pastoral letters
to try to help the congregations of their dioceses make sense of the
disturbing developments in Long Island.
     "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,"
said
Bishop Richard L. Shimpfky of the Diocese of El Camino Real.
     "Such behavior is sinful, sick and in its very nature evil and
whenever it occurs, must be dealt with expeditiously and decisively," said
Bishop Bertram Herlong of Tennessee. "This article portrays the Episcopal
Church in a false light. The behavior it describes in such detail is not
typical in our church, and it is certainly not typical of our clergy."
     Herlong reminded his congregations of the training offered by the
church to prevent sexual misconduct, exploitation and abuse, and reiterated
that "sexual misconduct and abuse of any kind will not be tolerated in this
diocese; in all circumstances it is inexcusable."
     Most of all, Herlong said, "I am saddened about the negative effect
such a story might have on all those who are trying to pursue the mission
of the church and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Behavior not typical of homosexuals
     More than 35 bishops have signed a statement blaming the events in
Long Island on what they perceive to be the Episcopal Church's lax stance
on sexual issues, but other bishops condemned that effort to link a dialogue
on sexuality with sexual aberration.
     Noting that the article accuses the clergy of engaging in "predatory
sexual behavior and activities that call into question the sincerity of their
commitment to the faith they claim to profess," Bishop John Spong of
Newark said that such behavior "would be condemned by both heterosexual
and homosexual Christians."
     Conservative members of the church have used the situation, he said,
to assert that "this type of behavior is typical of homosexual people," but
seem "not to be aware that heterosexual behavior can also take bizarre,
predatory and destructive forms that this church would never affirm." Spong
added, "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."
     Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia decried suggestions 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 is "outrageous, wrong and
sinful," he said. "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."
     Responding in a letter to the editor of a Pennsylvania newspaper that
ran a critical column on the situation, Bishop Paul Marshall of the Diocese
of Bethlehem said, "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."
     In Episcopal parishes, he said, "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."

--James H. Thrall is deputy director of news and information for the
Episcopal Church. Jerry Hames, editor of Episcopal Life, contributed to this
article. Texts of Browning's letter and the Executive Council resolution
available on request.