Judge reserves decision in $4.35 million lawsuit

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
4/15/2006

OWEGO, NY: New York State Supreme Court Judge, Jeffrey A. Tait declined
on Good Friday to dismiss charges brought by an Episcopal priest against
Central New York Bishop Gladstone "Skip" Adams III, the diocese and
former controller and administrator Gael Sopchak.

Fr. David G. Bollinger, rector of St. Paul's church in Owego who was
inhibited by Bishop Adams for alleged financial irregularities, outing
an alleged pedophile priest and for invading his personal bank account
by the controller, is suing the bishop, diocese and Sopchak for $4.35
million.

Named in the lawsuit was the alleged pedophile priest Fr. Ralph Johnson
now living in Gibson, Pennsylvania. According to an eyewitness report
the judge showed considerable interest in the now resigned diocesan
administrator's breaking into Bollinger's personal accounts.

Bollinger's wife Kelly is also claiming $250,000 as part of the lawsuit
for "wrongful and tortuous conduct of the defendants, loss of services
and consortium with her husband" thus impairing his health.

The bishop sought unsuccessfully to have the charges dropped. The bishop
presented the suit as a violation of his First Amendment rights to
discipline his clergy. The lawsuit is not about property rights.

While Bollinger has not been removed from the parish, he cannot function
as a priest. He has been inhibited but not deposed. His lawyer David
Goulden maintains that the inhibition is no longer effective because the
Standing Committee of the Diocese did not play by the rules and did not
hold hearings. The presentment against Fr. Bollinger has been extended
for 90 days from April 5.

Diocesan attorney Jonathan Fellows wore a tie with all kinds of crosses
on it, an observer noted, and works for the high end Syracuse law firm
of Bond, Schoeneck and King. The law firm allegedly charges $300 to $400
an hour. It is estimated that the diocese will spend $220,000 to
$300,000 to defend itself and to bring Bollinger down, said a source.
"We believe the diocese will need to get assistance from a fund
administered by the national church to pay the fees in lawsuits brought
by bishops against priests," he said.

A decision will be made on June 16.

END