Screen cap of piece by St. Thomas resident pornographer Erich Erving. Full frontal nudity redacted.
Anglican Watch has received reports from a source close to the matter that St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue’s retaliation for complaining about sexual harassment may be expanding. Specifically, we have now identified five persons allegedly banned from the parish for reporting sexual misconduct. We also are working on reports that the Diocese of New York (DioNY)may be retaliating against various additional persons in this matter.
While we have been unable to independently confirm these reports, Anglican Watch believes the allegations to be credible.
If accurate, these reports suggest a pattern and practice on the part of St. Thomas church involving retaliation any time someone complains of abuse.
Two of the individuals in question allegedly received identically worded emails from Matthew Moretz, the Chief Operating Officer and Vicar of St. Thomas’ Fifth Avenue. Anglican Watch believes one may have been sent after Moretz was placed on administrative leave for his role in this matter.
Retaliation against anyone reporting a Title IV clergy disciplinary matter, or opposing conduct forbidden under Title IV, or participating in a Title IV proceeding, is expressly prohibited under church canons.
Specifically, Canon IV.3.1 was amended in 2018 to provide that members of the clergy shall be subject to Title IV discipline for:
discharging, demoting, or otherwise retaliating against any person because the person has opposed any practices forbidden under this Title or because the person has reported information concerning an Offense, testified, or assisted in any proceeding under this Title.
In addition, DioNY Bishop Matthew Heyd retaliated against the original complainant in the current meltdown at St. Thomas by piling on and attempting to bar him from all churches in DioNY. This measure has been in place since early this year, and thus far the Diocese has refused to provide a pastoral response to any of the parties in this matter.
Moreover, even though there’s been more than ample time to “investigate” the matter, DioNY Bishop Allen K. Shin, now handling the Title IV clergy disciplinary complaint about sexual harassment at the church, appears to have refused to end the Diocese’s retaliation against the complainant on the basis that the Diocese is still investigating whether the complainant is a threat to churches in the Diocese.
To be clear, there is no evidence — and there never has been any evidence — to suggest that the complainant is in any way a security threat. That’s particularly the case when St. Thomas’ has convicted felons working in positions of trust at the church.
Anglican Watch has contacted DioNY and St. Thomas’ directly with questions, concerns
Relatedly, we recently had a reader ask us if we have provided DioNY officials with an opportunity to respond to our concerns. We did, and we are including screen caps of relevant documents below. We also are including emails to St. Thomas’.
The fact that both the Diocese and St. Thomas’ have actual knowledge that they are violating church canons underscores the need for accountability. Additionally, because neither the church nor the Diocese are taking responsibility for their conduct, we support legal action against both entities as well as the persons involved.
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