Episcopal clergyman criticized

From Bethlehem (PA)

The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem moved one step closer to defrocking Gregory Malia, a priest who holds a residency in Laflin and runs a Pittston business.

Malia first ran afoul of the diocese in December when articles in the New York Daily News described him as “a big spending, champagne swilling, club-hopping priest from the coal fields of Pennsylvania” who frequents trendy Manhattan clubs “in the wee hours and spends thousands on top shelf liquors, doling out five-figure tips like silver dollars.”

When those articles appeared, Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem Bishop Paul Marshall “inhibited” Malia – barring him from ministering as a priest. Marshall said that, if true, the actions depicted in the newspaper “constitute a serious violation of ordination vows to be a wholesome example to a priest’s people.”

The issue then went before the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Bethlehem, a body that investigated the claims.

On Monday, the diocese issued a statement noting Marshall had received a formal letter of complaint from the Standing Committee saying Malia “has by certain publicly known actions and failures to act, abandoned the Discipline and Worship of this Church.”

The bishop then issued a new inhibition that bars Malia from conducting priestly ministries or presenting himself as a priest. The renewed restrictions come with a deadline: Malia has six months “to make matters completely right according to the Church’s canon law.”

More here-

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Episcopal__clergyman_criticized_08-19-2009.html