Religion
Related: About this forumEpiscopal Church Takes A Hard Look At Alcohol After Bishop Is Charged With Drunken Driving
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/15/episcopal-church-alcohol_n_6679300.htmlReligion News Service | By Lauren Markoe
Posted: 02/15/2015 11:27 am EST Updated: 02/15/2015 11:59 am EST
In 2010, Heather Cook was caught behind the wheel with a blood alcohol level of .27 more than three times the legal limit in Maryland and pleaded guilty. Photo courtesy of Episcopal News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) Hundreds of American bicyclists die in collisions with cars each year, but a fatal December crash in Baltimore has triggered some serious soul-searching within the Episcopal Church: The drunken driver, authorities say, was a bishop.
Now clergy and laypeople alike are rereading church policy on alcohol and the consecration of bishops, how addiction is handled and whether the church itself was in any way culpable in the death of cyclist Thomas Palermo, a 41-year-old husband and father of two.
The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, one of two main governing bodies of the 2 million-member denomination, said many Episcopalians are asking why church leaders allowed Heather Cook to be confirmed as bishop last September despite their knowledge of her struggle with alcohol.
Sometimes a tragedy happens and people move on after a couple of weeks, Jennings said. This particular tragedy has caused many people to not only look at the issue of alcoholism and other drug addictions but also how we select and elect our leaders, our bishops.
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Response to cbayer (Original post)
WhiteTara This message was self-deleted by its author.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)How 20th century of them. No doubt in a few years you'll post an article titled "Faith communities took the lead in the fight to combat alcoholism".
Late to the party on moral issues, as usual, and even then only when they're shamed into it.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Why is that, with the drinking/Episcopalian correlation you claimed? Any insights?
I was not aware it was a thing till you started cracking jokes about it.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)I told you before I don't give a damn if you believe me. Ask someone else and consider treating them better than you did me.
Good night.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)I don't understand why you are upset. It was your joke, not mine. I wouldn't have said something like that about Episcopalians as a group. If I had, I would have expected you to speak up about it. And rightly so.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)You dismissed my experience as an Episcopalian and because an article appears you now believe me.
Let me tell you I know a lot about the culture of my church.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Still no answer.
I didn't believe you because it sounded like you were stereotyping in your joke.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)You may not have meant to but you dismissed my experience.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)All the while, no concern, trust, or recognition of mine.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)Bishop Heather Cook is clearly an alcoholic, however. Alcoholism is spread throughout society.
okasha
(11,573 posts)That is something you gratuitously dragged into this thread. You do way too much stereotyping for anyone to take your faux concern seriously.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Did you read this op's article which actually tells the same joke Justin did? Read the whole article?