While we fully support the decision to suspend Andrus, Anglican Watch also believes the move underscores the problems with Title IV and its implementation at the national level:
• There are numerous clergy out there who engage in criminal conduct but they face neither suspension nor consequences. For example, we have covered the felonious perjury of Episcopal priest Bob Malm, yet he continues in active ministry--despite requests even from the Survivors Network of Persons Abused by Priests that the church act against him. Similarly, the Diocese of Newark shrugged off alcohol abuse by Fr. Bill Allport, including allegations of driving church vehicles under the influence. That begs the question: Why does everyone foam at the mouth over an affair, yet they ignore criminal conduct? (Not that an affair is acceptable conduct, but as between felony criminal conduct and what is likely a consensual affair, we believe the felony can and should be the priority.)

• The denomination appears unwilling to discipline conservative bishops. Specifically, for more than two years now, national intake officer Barb Kempf and other church officials -- including Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, who serves as presiding bishop-designate in Title IV matters involving bishops -- have ignored the two Title IV complaints filed against Bishop George Sumner, who engaged in retaliation for opposing sexual harassment by Episcopal priest Douglas Anderson. (For the record, we have contacted Barb Kempf repeatedly, and have forwarded our concerns to Gray-Reeves.)

• True abuse, as we see in the Santosh Marray case, who has abused clergy under his care, threatened them, bullied them, and violated Title IV confidentiality, goes to conciliation, which is not likely to be successful given Marray's seeming narcissistic tendencies. Yet Andrus has a fling and it's all hands to battle stations. How does that work? Again, we in no way wish to minimize Andrus' seeming extramarital activities, but abuse and criminal conduct also should warrant immediate suspension.