Controversial Colorado priest weighing legal options
Embattled Episcopal priest Don Armstrong is consulting with civil and church attorneys about his legal options after a church panel refused to lift restrictions on him.
Armstrong wanted the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado to back off while it investigates an allegation of “misapplied funds” at his Colorado Springs parish.
Although he is presumed innocent under church law and not charged with any crime, Armstrong is forbidden to live as a priest or even speak to anyone at his 2,400-member parish while the investigation is under way.
His attorney, Dan Sears, called last week’s unanimous decision to keep the restrictions in place “extremely distressing.” He lamented that his client has no constitutional protections except the presumption of innocence, and even that “has been virtually disregarded.”
Sears added that in his 38 years as a lawyer, “I have not encountered a process that’s less fair than what Father Armstrong confronts here.”
Bishop Rob O’Neill put Armstrong on paid administrative leave and banned him from all parish contact on Dec. 27.
posted by t19elves at 5:37 AM
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