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Rector's Suit Against Bishop Opens In Pennsylvania Today

By Howard M. Friedman

Today's Philadelphia Inquirer reports on an unusual trial that begins today in a Pennsylvania state trial court. Rev. David Moyer, former rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal parish in Rosemont (PA), is suing Episcopal Bishop Charles E. Bennison Jr. for fraud and deception allegedly used to remove Moyer as a priest six years ago. Moyer is a conservative, opposed to same-sex marriage and ordination of gays and women. Moyer and several other conservative rectors barred the liberal Bishop Bennison from preaching or administering sacraments in their parishes, arguing that Bennison's views on homosexuality were unbiblical and close to heresy. In response, Bennison "inhibited" Moyer, and in 2002 removed him, and denied him a chruch trial on the removal saying that Moyer had "broken communion" with the Episcopal Church by accepting (and then refusing) appointment as a bishop in the conservative Anglican Church in America. While civil courts usually refuse to adjudicate these kinds of internal church determinations, Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Branca held otherwise last year after Moyer argued that he lacked other remedies since he had been improperly denied a church trial.

Meanwhile Bennison himself is facing possible removal on charges that 30 years ago he failed to take action and concealed information when his older brother John--then a youth minister-- sexually abused a teenage girl in his parish. [Thanks to James Maule via Religionlaw for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 20, 2008 (boomark / email).