Court Dismisses Charges Against N.Y. Episcopal Priest
Tuesday, Jul. 17, 2007 Posted: 5:52:36PM EST
An ecclesiastical court located in Syracuse, N.Y., dismissed all charges against a northern New York Episcopal priest on Tuesday, largely due to a lack of evidence.
The Rev. David Bollinger of St. Paul’s Church in Oswego, N.Y., was originally charged with financial misconduct and disobedience by representatives from the Central New York diocese, but will not face any penalties.
The case lasted only one hour on Tuesday following a six-hour court date on Monday in which attorneys on behalf of the diocese were unable to use most of their evidence and all their witnesses against the clergy head.
“I have always operated above board and with the full knowledge and agreement of the vestry,” explained Bollinger over the allegations, according to the Living Church Foundation. “I have used that fund for much good in this community.”
On Monday, the prosecution brought up nine motions to submit evidence to the court. Each of the motions was shut down by the court heads, however, because the diocese had missed the discovery phase filing deadline by more than two weeks.
As a result, key witnesses such as the Rt. Rev. Gladstone “Skip” Adams, the bishop of Central New York and main source of allegations against Bollinger, were not allowed within the trial.
Today the defendant, who acted as his own lawyer, submitted only one piece of evidence which showed him paying taxes on income that the diocese accused him of failing to report. He also explained the lack of evidence that the diocese had put forth and asked for the case to be dismissed.
The five judge panel agreed to the request after a brief recess due to the lack of evidence. The presiding judge Carter Stickland had reprimanded the diocese prior to the July 16 trial over the way that they handled the case, and that they must follow the rules like everyone else.
According to cannon law, the verdict cannot be appealed.
Bollinger feels that the trial was only a result of a public campaign that he has been pursuing to punish a previous rector of St. Paul’s on sexual misconduct. He was displeased with the way things turned out.
“This has been the summer from hell for me and my family,” added the priest. “My wife and I have borne the brunt of this madness. Every morning we strategize how we are going to get through the day.”
Ten people attended the two-day trial, eight whom were priests inside the diocese.
