Episcopalians: Bishop Grein Cleared of Charges

October 18, 2002
by Jan Nunley

NEW YORK – Retired New York Bishop Richard F. Grein has been cleared by the Title IV Review Committee of allegations that he violated the canons and his ordination vows in the process of replacing the Rev. Janet Broderick Kraft as vicar of Grace Church in New York with "a close personal friend" and former assistant in the bishop's office, the Rev. Anne Richards.

According to the committee's final report, three priests and lay people of the Diocese of New York signed the charges. Two other lay signers were identified as "communicants of the Episcopal Church." The charges alleged that Grein "violated the Canons of General Convention, the Canons of the Diocese of New York, his Ordination Vows and constituted Conduct Unbecoming a Member of the Clergy in violation of Canon IV. 1.1 (e), (f), (h) and (j)."

Grein was accused of having Kraft removed in order to have her position filled by Richards, one day before his retirement on June 30, 2001. The complaint accused him of "directing the priest-in-charge of Grace Church to sign a letter terminating her employment based on allegations of financial misconduct" which Grein had not investigated, and accused Grein of defaming Kraft. It also claimed he used "threats and coercion" to have her sign an agreement releasing him from liability. (Kraft did not sign the letter.) Grein was also charged with issuing a pastoral direction to Kraft "for which there was no factual basis and for an improper purpose."

On February 2, 2002 Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold referred the charges to the Review Committee, as required by canon. The members of the committee met by telephone on February 15, April 19 and October 14 of this year to consider the charges and determined that if the alleged facts were true, the offense of "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy" might have occurred. They referred the charges to church attorney David Booth Beers, asking him to investigate and make a report and recommendation to the committee.

Beers interviewed 39 people connected with the case. He reviewed written submissions and transcripts of hearings in a civil action that Kraft filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Grace Church, Grein, Richards and the Rev. David Rider, current priest-in-charge of Grace Church, as well as correspondence and other documents made available by Kraft, her attorneys, the Diocese of New York and Grace Church.

Kraft's civil action alleged breach of contract, wrongful discharge, wrongful denial of employment benefits and defamation and with a conspiracy to interfere with her employment, and sought $6.8 million in damages.

In a 79-page report, presented to the Review Committee on September 19, Beers concluded "in light of the absence of evidence that Bishop Grein committed an offense, we recommend that no presentment issue in this case."

At its October meeting the committee, reviewing the report, determined that it would "not be necessary or appropriate to seek or receive additional evidence" in the matter and decided to issue no presentment against Grein.

The Presiding Bishop's office declined to comment on the case.

Kraft's father is actor James Broderick, her mother, Patricia Broderick, is a painter and screenwriter, and her brother is actor Matthew Broderick. She is now rector of Grace Van Vorst Church in Jersey City, in the Diocese of Newark.

Episcopal News Service