Watchdog Group Fils Disciplinary Complaint Against Rector of Prominent Episcopal Parish

Anglican Watch, the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, filed on July 1 a Title IV clergy disciplinary complaint against the Rev. Canon Carl Turner, rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, which is found at a prestigious location on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, in New York City. According to a press release, this followed the arrest of two male church employees, one of whom is a priest, over allegations they sexually assaulted a male parishioner.

Shortly after the victim complained to the ECUSA Diocese of New York, Turner published a piece in the church newsletter disparaging the victim, the release said. According to Anglican Watch, the post referenced the victim and leveled several accusations of:

Threatening one or more persons connected with St. Thomas.
Harassing one or more persons connected with St. Thomas.
Making false accusations, apparently about being sexually assaulted.
Damaging church property.
Having been arrested due to his conduct at St. Thomas.

An independent background check of the victim, interviews with various witnesses, and multiple contacts with the New York Police Department and District Attorney’s office, Anglican Watch declared, provided no evidence to support Turner’s claims. In addition, a review of the victim’s employment record reveals an unblemished record of exemplary conduct and work performance. The watchdog group claims that the victim has been polygraphed during his career and successfully undergone a background investigation far more comprehensive than required for most federal security clearances.

Anglican Watch also contacted the church’s wardens for documentation of these claims but received no response. Thus, we believe Turner’s claims to be fabrications and a smear campaign intended to discredit the victim and cause him additional trauma.

As a result, Anglican Watch has formally accused Turner of multiple canonical violations, including:

Retaliating for filing a clergy disciplinary complaint, which is expressly forbidden under church canons.
Refusing without reason to cooperate in a Title IV clergy disciplinary proceeding.
Attempting to interfere in Title IV and criminal investigations of the church employees in question, thus potentially engaging in criminal obstruction of justice.
Failing to report sexual assault to the appropriate officials.
Engaging in conduct unbecoming.

Additionally, due to Turner’s apparent ongoing efforts to engage in obstruction of justice and to further traumatize the victim, Anglican Watch has requested Turner’s immediate suspension as the church's rector and reserves the right to file additional criminal complaints in the matter.

Sources close to the matter told Anglican Watch that other victims of abuse at the church have come forward and are in contact with area attorneys. The church operates the only English-style choir school in the United States, and is the storied church home of various pillars of the Gilded Age, including Brooke Astor and the Vanderbilt family. In addition, St. Thomas was embroiled in controversy several years ago over allegations that boys from the choir school had been sexually abused.

One of the two men in the current incident, a priest, remains employed by the church and in proximity to children and other potentially vulnerable populations.

Sources within the New York Police Department tell Anglican Watch to expect formal criminal charges in the matter shortly.

“Anglican Watch stands with the victim in this matter,” stated Anglican Watch Executive Director Eric Bonetti. “We will not tolerate corruption or secret efforts behind closed doors to cover up this egregious abuse of trust. Moreover, the response of the Episcopal Diocese of New York to date has been shambolic and abusive,” he added. 

Founded in 2015, Anglican Watch addresses both sexual and non-sexual abuse within the Anglican Communion. Total annual readership of the organization's website is more than 300,000 people.