Episcopal Church Stunned by Alleged Sexual Misconduct of Long Island Priests
Episcopal News Service. November 7, 1996 [96-1607]
(ENS) An article in the December issue of Penthouse magazine contains serious allegations of sexual misconduct against a priest in the Diocese of Long Island, the Rev. William Lloyd Andries. And the article says that other priests, not named, are also involved in what it called "bizarre" homosexual rituals, some of them in a Brooklyn church where Andries has been rector.
While noting that it is not yet possible to determine the validity of the allegations, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning called the claims that Andries and other priests imported young men from Brazil to serve as sex partners "shocking and deeply disturbing."
The article paints a lurid portrait of homosexual orgies by cross-dressing priests who engaged in sado-masochism and drug use. By anyone's standards, Brownings said, "these behaviors, if the reports are accurate, are an aberration."
In a statement released October 31, Browning underscored that "the Episcopal Church deplores sexual exploitation and abuse of any kind. If the recent allegations prove true, the clergy implicated have violated their ordination vows, desecrated holy space and betrayed a sacred trust."
The allegations, he said, "must be dealt with in a fair and expeditious manner," and noted the "responsibility and accountability" of Bishop Orris G. Walker, Jr., the bishop of Long Island, and the diocesan Standing Committee, for "seeing that a thorough investigation of these allegations is completed and any wrongdoing uncovered." Such an investigation "is of paramount importance," he said. "The values and principles of our community demand no less."
Walker said in an October 28 statement that the article "distressed me deeply." He met with Andries on October 25, in the presence of one of his legal advisors. "It was imperative that we make every effort to determine the truth of the assertions to be found in this article," he said in his statement. "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."
Andries has denied most of the claims made in the article. In a statement released November 2, Andries called the article "a tissue of lies" and reported that he is preparing to sue Penthouse for libel.
In particular, Andries denies ever having "sex with anyone in St. Gabriel's Church," using cocaine or dressing as a woman. While admitting to becoming infatuated with Jairo Pereira, one of two Brazilian men who were the sources for the article, and taking part in a ceremony to "solemnize our relationship," Andries said that he is now aware that he is "guilty of a serious lapse of judgement in my affections." Noting that "I now realize that I was used by two hustlers," Andries said that he resigned his office "in order to spare the Episcopal Church additional trauma."
Andries endorsed the call for a "thorough investigation of the entire matter," and asked the "Episcopal Church to forgive me for the embarrassment that I have caused."
Browning said October 31 that the Rev. Howard Williams, the Episcopal Church's coordinator for children's ministries, who was mentioned in the article as tangentially involved, had agreed to resign.
The principal source for the article, Wasticlinio Barros, a Brazilian man who admits participating in the sexual rituals, said that he met Williams and Andries together in Argentina. The article stresses, however, that as far as Barros knows, "Williams had no involvement with the priest's sexual activities."
Church officials said that Williams' effectiveness as a staff member was irreparably damaged by his appearance in the article.
The article also became an issue in the election of a suffragan bishop for the Diocese of Long Island, held November 2, as convention delegates debated whether to postpone the election "due to the strife and turmoil" currently afflicting the diocese. The motion to adjourn was defeated, however, by a margin of nearly two to one, and the election proceeded. The Rev. Rodney Michel of St. Peter's Church, Bay Shore, president of the diocesan standing committee, was elected on the third ballot.
Early reactions to the allegations reflected the church's continuing attempt to deal with sexuality issues.
In a statement, Integrity, a ministry with gays and lesbians, expressed its "sadness and dismay" over the allegations. While the organization does not presume "the guilt of the priest or any others," the statement stresses that "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."
The organization called for prayer "for all those involved, especially anyone victimized in these incidents and the authorities of the diocese and the national church."
Other voices, however, blamed the scandal on what they called the church's lax stance on sexual mores. More than 30 bishops signed a statement that said, "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."
The bishops endorsed a "full, complete independent investigation and public report" of the allegations and called for a review of Bishop Walker's response to the scandal.
The organization Episcopalians United supported the bishops' call for an investigation. "Episcopalians United thanks these bishops for their defense of orthodox Christian teaching," said the Rev. Todd H. Wetzel, executive director. "We hope many more bishops will join them in calling for a diligent pursuit of the truth."
Browning's statement pointed out that the Episcopal Church "has been in dialogue for decades around the proper and holy expression of sexuality," and that "there is not yet consensus."
He stressed, however, that "we must be clear that the allegations of the abusive and lurid sexual activities by some persons in the Diocese of Long Island are outside the parameters of our ongoing discussion. All decent people, regardless of their convictions in the dialogues around sexuality, are outraged and revolted by the exploitation and abuse of any human being."