A scantily clad woman waltzed down the horseshoe shaped runway and approached the wannabe priest, undressing herself as she strutted her stuff. By the time she reached Sauls she was devoid of most of her clothing. She squatted in front of the future bishop of the Episcopal Church.

"Most of us would be focusing on 'that' part of a woman, but Stacy felt his eyes being drawn to her right leg where a sequined garter belt hung, and on it were written the words 'Go For It'", said a priest. Sauls took that as a divine message from God that he should be ordained.

As Sauls later told the story to several small groups of clergy, he was so impressed he uttered out loud, "Isn't it amazing how God leads us." At that moment Sauls had an epiphany and the future course of his life was decided.

Three priests, who asked not to be named, fearing their jobs, told the story to VOL, and said Sauls has told the story to several small groups of clergy in his diocese at one time or another, most recently in 2002.

Following this personal revelation, Sauls knew that God wanted him in the priesthood and soon after left his legal practice.

Sauls, now 49, known affectionately as "Stubby" for his portly appearance, is both detested and feared by orthodox priests in his diocese.

Said one priest of Sauls; "The man's disposition is equal rights for all, and he says he values women and homosexuals, but there he was in a degrading situation in a strip club looking at a naked woman!"

Anther story Sauls openly told to a group that included both men and women, occurred on the eve of the September before he went off to seminary. He took his wife and son to visit her mother to give her the news. As they were getting ready to drive away after the visit, his mother-in-law started crying and saying "you are taking my babies away from me." At that moment Sauls retorted, "f**k you, they're mine", and drove off.

"He said it to show his power and boost his ego to his clergy," said a priest. "I thought to myself, 'how dare you say something like that. It is outrageous.' From that moment I was pretty much a broken priest around him...I didn't want to be around him and I knew that something had to be done."

Whenever he is on commissions or other matters pertaining to the church he tries to dominate with a very intimidating personality. He tries to make his point and get his way in a very bullying manner, said a source who knows him well.

Sauls is one of the contenders for Presiding Bishop to replace Frank T. Griswold.

The bishop did not return a phone call from VOL.

END