I do this simply because nobody knows if the problems from 2010-2012, when he was curate and we got to know him, are now just water under the bridge (in which case it is proper to forgive and forget), or if the parish will need to deal with him again, in which case everyone needs to be aware of potential issues that would affect his resumed ministry. As my visitor pointed out, at minimum, he could be involved in any mutual programs between two neighboring Ordinariate parishes.
I know little beyond the broad outlines of pastoral ethics. When Bartus was at St Mary's, of course, he was an ACA priest, and he is now a Catholic priest. Different standards almost certainly apply between the denominations. However, I found this fairly general discussion of pastoral ethics online
On the whole, the discussions I've seen stress that it is inappropriate for a pastor to socialize excessively with particular cliques in a parish or to join one or another faction.We are committed to mutually building up the body of Christ, recognizing and affirming the different gifts in the assembly. In the occurrence of criticism or complaints brought by a member of the body, we are committed to discussion leading to restoration between members of the body.
We are committed to diligently preserving unity in the body of Christ. We will not knowingly participate in the division of any local church. If such division occurs, we will not personally participate in the start of another church in the same locale.
Mrs Bush and the Kangs are the individuals listed by Mr Lancaster as his clients in the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry cases. I think it's reasonable to infer that they are, or were during 2010-12, key members of one particular parish faction. However, it was general knowledge -- and my wife and I saw one instance of this ourselves, to our surprise -- that Bartus socialized extensively outside parish activities with Mrs Bush and the Kangs. I've heard at second hand that Bartus and Mr Kang frequently played poker together at one or another residence. This conduct was observed by other members of the parish during 2010-12 and recognized at the time to be unethical.
In addition, when he left the parish in April 2012, Bartus took several members, whom he had cultivated while curate at St Mary's, with him to join his Newman group in Orange County. This was also unethical, by this and other common standards of pastoral ethics. I simply don't know if there has been continued contact between Bartus, Mrs Bush, or other members of the dissident faction at St Mary's, but if I were Houston, this is an issue I would wish to assure myself was not a potential problem.
Leaving anything else aside, Bartus's conduct with parishioners and cliques in the parish was unethical, such that the elected vestry is fully justified in not wishing to have any type of renewed contact -- even participation in joint activities as Ordinariate parishes should be cause for concern to any succeeding parish council.
However, the best inference that can be drawn from known circumstances is that Bartus was, at minimum, aware of the scheme to deliberately withhold parish tax payments to the IRS, resulting in the eventual near-seizure of the property. This was averted only by the premature arrival of a final notice. It appears that the principals behind the scheme had enlisted Bartus as their candidate for Rector in the wake of the seizure, if it had taken place. My wife and I have some direct evidence of this, as Bartus made an appointment to visit us at our home, presumably to explain his new position, just after the date the IRS would have seized the parish. He simply didn't show up when that didn't happen. Here's another passage from the ethics outline cited above:
We will conduct ourselves in an honest and professional manner, always reflecting the highest biblical integrity in keeping with our call in the areas mentioned in this code. We will endeavor to do right by all people.My understanding, reinforced by an e-mail just this morning, is that Ordinariate officers were warned of Bartus's unethical conduct prior to his ordination as a Catholic priest. Instead, his reception and ordination were fast-tracked, ironically with former members of the St Mary's parish, whom he had poached for his Newman group, in attendance.We are committed to keeping ourselves above reproach in all areas of life. We are committed to moral soundness, honesty, and uprightness.
I pray for all those involved.
