BRITAIN
Yorkshire Post Today
Michael Brown
Religious Affairs Correspondent
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women and excessive drinking will be made against suspended Dean of Ripon Cathedral John Methuen at a rarely-held ecclesiastical court trial due to open in Leeds today.
The 57-year-old married dean will be accused on 21 counts of "conduct unbecoming the office and work of a clerk in holy orders" and one count of "serious, persistent or continuous neglect of duty".
Of the 21, at least one alleges the dean behaved inappropriately towards women and others are connected with his drinking habits.
The charges, to be heard by the Consistory Court of Bishop of Ripon and Leeds John Packer, are brought under the 42-year-old ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure, church law which deals with clergy discipline.
Three weeks have been set aside for the trial, presided over at the Leeds Combined Courts centre by Judge Rupert Bursell.