Investigation Clears Bishop of Connecticut
4/13/2007

The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, Bishop of Connecticut, has been cleared by the Title IV [disciplinary] Review Committee of charges that he violated canon law. The charges, brought by nine adult communicants and the rectors of six parishes, challenged a variety of actions that Bishop Smith took in pursuing abandonment of communion charges against the six clergy.

“The review committee has reached different conclusions with respect to different allegations,” the committee stated in a 92-page decision released April 11. “With respect to a small number of the alleged offenses, the review committee has not found reasonable cause to believe that they constitute offenses under the canons. With respect to most of the other actions challenged by the charges, the review committee has not found reasonable cause to believe that they constitute offenses under the canons and in any event has not found reasonable cause to believe that Bishop Smith’s actions were taken with the intent required to be subject to presentment.

“The review committee has found reasonable cause to believe that one aspect of Bishop Smith’s response violated a canon, but that the violation cannot be subject of a presentment because the review committee could not determine that there was reasonable cause to find that it was an intentional, material and meaningful offense.” the rest