Priest Gets Episcopal Church Apology After Law Suit

This should have happened for Fr. David Bollinger in DCNY because of the disgraceful attacks by the bishop. ed.

From Buffalo (pecusa diocese of Western NY):

By WKBW Directors
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It all started at St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia in October of 2004.
Then Canon or Father Simon Howson was accused of stealing church funds,
forging church documents and misrepresenting himself. He was publicly
removed from the church and the priesthood, no longer aloud serve. Today, 5
years later, his law suit against the church and bishop of the Buffalo
Diocese is settled. Howson says he is finally publicly exonerated and the
diocese is apologizing. "The bishop has stepped up and he's going to
apologize in writing for what happened to Simon Howson." said attorney
Andrew Fleming.

"You asked me how I feel," said Howson. "Numb. Numb." Howson filed a same
sex discrimination and retaliation suit claiming Bishop Michael Garrison
removed him from the church after he complained, that an admitted homosexual
Episcopalian priest, now serving in Massachusetts, was sexually harassing
him with unwanted advances. Howson is heterosexual. "Simon is a man of God.
This was very difficult for him in a sense that this was very challenging to
his faith journey." said Fleming.

Howson said every where he went, he felt like people were pointing fingers.
"Where ever O.J. Simpson went people looked at him and said he's a guilty
man. I felt the same way."

The diocese released a statement saying, "The diocese is thankful the case
has settled. We will continue to pray for everyone who was involved in this
matter."

As part of the settlement the Episcopal church will provide Howson with an
undisclosed amount of money, issue a written apology, and not work to
prevent Howson's restoration to the church and as a priest. Simon Howson
believes he will once again be Father Howson. "We'll I'm delighted to serve
our Lord again, but I've never stopped."