The Lead

The Washington Post reports on the sad news that the Rev. Marshall Brown, a longtime associate rector at Truro Church, and part of the clergy team that led the parish out of the Episcopal Church and into CANA, was sacked and that Brown is being investigated for habitually viewing pornographic material on his office computer.

MIchelle Boorstien and William Wan of the Post report:

Minns, who has known Brown since the two were in seminary together in the 1970s, said he is now launching an investigation into what happened and whether Brown should be stripped of his priestly credentials.
"Part of my thing now is to dig deeper," Minns said. "I was assured [in 2005] that he had a program for whatever he needed not to be addicted, and it was no longer a problem. I don't know now, based on what's happened, how much I can trust those assurances."
...
In 2005, Truro arranged for Brown, now 57, to get treatment for an Internet addiction after he reported having a problem, according to Bishop Martyn Minns, who was Truro's rector at the time and is now bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, the umbrella group of breakaway churches.

Minns, one of the leaders of Anglican conservatism, said in an interview this week that in 2005 he didn't ask his then-assistant for details about what kind of sites he was using - sexual or otherwise. The addiction experts who treated Brown told Minns "there was nothing illegal or involving children," but beyond that, Minns said, "I didn't ask too many questions."
...
Then, last month, Brown was removed for accessing "Web sites that would be considered pornography," said Truro Executive Director Warren Thrasher.

The Post also reports that another staff member's computer was taken by police.

Reaction by Truro parishioners was mixed:

Parishioners were told to direct any questions from outsiders to church leadership. A few, who did not want their names used for fear of being ostracized, said they were concerned that the addiction of one of their top clergy had been kept quiet for years and that specific details had still not been given. Others said they felt that was proper.

It appears that this time Minns has acted to inhibit and possibly depose Brown. This is in contrast to his continuation of the ministry of the Rev. Donald Armstrong in Colorado Springs, who is convicted of a felony, contrary to the Canons of ACNA and the welcoming of the Rev. Randolph Bragg, who was, even though he was convicted by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia of immorality, conduct unbecoming and violation of ordination vows, was welcomed as a priest in good standing in CANA just before a presentment was handed down, as reported here.

Comments (5)

Down, foul Schadenfreude, down!

[And if it allows more Minns posturing . . . seriously, there's nothing good here. Lord have mercy.]

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux | January 7, 2011 6:14 PM

Don't you know that being Orthodox means never having to say you're sorry much less be held accountable for your peccadilloes.

It would be interesting to know from our HoB how many clergy have fled their jurisdiction to an Orthodox jurisdiction to avoid accountability after the fashion of Don Armstrong.

Posted by Michael Russell | January 7, 2011 7:05 PM

So an Anglican priest who views porn is news, but the story in yesterday's Washington Post about the Episcopal priest arrested and awaiting extradition on child abuse isn't? Obviously people in Truro aren't the only ones turning blind eyes.

Please sign your name next time you comment Chris H. ~ed.

Posted by Chris H. | January 7, 2011 10:36 PM

Here's the story Chris H refers to.

May Justice Prevail! (Am thankful for the provision, "The diocese says steps are being taken to prohibit Belcher from priestly functions and an investigation has begun", the former being necessary while the latter is on-going)

Posted by tgflux | January 8, 2011 1:05 AM

Sorry about the missing name. Being from Montana, it's the other story that's all over, along with comments about the East sending us their messes--unabomber anyone?

Chris Harwood

Posted by Chris H. | January 8, 2011 9:18 AM

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