Anglican Watch, the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church, today demanded that the Episcopal Diocese of New York stop leaking confidential information in the Title IV clergy disciplinary case against various clergy at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue.
At issue are leaks from St. Thomas rector Carl Turner, in which he violated confidentiality by publicly identifying the adult male victim of three separate incidents of sexual assault.
Such a disclosure is an express violation of Title IV, which mandates confidentiality for all clergy involved in a Title IV matter. The only exception is if the bishop authorizes disclosure to provide a pastoral response to those affected by allegations of misconduct; this has not happened.
Relatedly, leaks have occurred by persons involved in the Title IV process, including the intake officer, the Rev. Alison Quin.
“While complainants are under no obligation to maintain confidentiality per church canons, all clergy and diocesan employees are obligated to do so, including refraining from identifying Title IV complainants and victims of alleged sexual assault,” said Anglican Watch executive director Eric Bonetti. “Nor is it adequate for the Title IV intake officer to ‘remind’ Turner of the need to respect confidentiality when issues of sexual assault allegations arise.
“Moreover, we are deeply concerned by recent, additional retaliatory actions by the Diocese, including the termination of a Diocesan employee on a pretextual basis.
“Further, it appears that the Diocese is misusing the Title IV process by conducting an investigation not intended to support the Title IV process, but rather with goals of suppressing dissent and identifying information the Diocese can use in litigation in an attempt to discredit victims of alleged sexual abuse.
“We are also appalled that Suffragan Bishop Shin, who is in charge of the current Title IV case, is known to be a close friend of St. Thomas rector Carl Turner. This is a flagrant violation of the impartiality required in a clergy disciplinary case, and Shin needs to recuse himself immediately.
“The misconduct by the Diocese and St. Thomas’ clergy needs to stop, and it needs to stop now,” Bonetti concludes.
Founded in 2015, Anglican Watch is the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church. Anglican Watch addresses sexual and non-sexual abuse in the Episcopal Church and other faith communities.