Parishioners in two Massachusetts churches reacted strongly to visits by their bishop on Palm Sunday following the bishop's temporary inhibition of their priest, the Rev. James Hiles. According to a diocesan spokesperson, "an affidavit has been filed ... alleging sexual misconduct on the part of" Fr. Hiles.

Members of the Church of Our Savior, a mission congregation in East Milton, refused to receive communion from the Rt. Rev. Thomas Shaw, S.S.J.E., Bishop of Massachusetts. An unruly question-and-answer session followed, which was described by the Rev. Canon Edward Rodman as "not pleasant but not hostile." Another observer reported that "the meeting in Milton concluded after repeated confrontations between the bishop and the people ... "

At St. Paul's, Brockton, where Fr. Hiles is the rector, Bishop Shaw attended the Eucharist but did not celebrate. The parish hired security personnel "to prevent disruptions," according to a newspaper account. Canon Rodman said the scheduled meeting at St. Paul's did not occur. The parish considers the sexual misconduct issue "trumped-up charges," in retaliation for an August vote to secede from the Episcopal Church over various disagreements. "The pastoral response team (which accompanied the bishop) is trained to deal with such situations. They were not prepared for the degree of hostility and denial they found in Brockton."

Fr. Hiles has reportedly denied any wrongdoing. Canon Rodman could not confirm reports that the allegations concerned events of 20 years past, but said that under the new Title IV of the church canons, which went into effect Jan. 1, no statute of limitations exists.

The charge against Fr. Hiles will be investigated by the diocesan standing committee, and "support persons have been identified" to act as advocates for all parties. St. Paul's will probably be served by an assistant during the procedure, and the diocese will provide supply clergy for Our Savior's. The diocese's statement stressed that "the bishop's pastoral care extends to the parishes affected. Meetings are planned with the members" of both churches.

The Brockton and Milton churches have long been unhappy with Bishop Shaw's stances on issues of homosexual marriage and ordination. Members of Our Savior's claim he has not replied to questions put to him in letters, and has prevented discussion of these and other troublesome issues at diocesan convention. St. Paul's decision to leave the diocese was that church's response to what parishioners saw as "increasingly liberal positions on abortion and homosexuality," according to the Boston Globe.

Financial issues also are involved. According to Canon Rodman, St. Paul's has withheld its diocesan assessment for the past three years. He said it is not adequately supporting the rector, and is in arrears on loan and Church Pension Fund payments. As a large urban parish with dwindling resources, he said "they are on the brink of being declared a mission."

The East Milton congregation, in contrast, recently received a $2 million bequest, authority over which is disputed because of Our Savior's mission status. Canon Rodman said the mission was supporting its vicar, taking over that obligation from the Brockton parish.

He denied that anyone was "out to get Fr. Hiles. The bishop could have fired him as vicar of Milton and demanded that Brockton pay up. We take no pleasure in this. We've been trying for three years to work it out." In any case, Canon Rodman said, the sexual misconduct charge is a separate issue, brought spontaneously by an aggrieved party.

Both Canon Rodman and the two churches praised Fr. Hiles for his work in the churches and the community.