BishopAccountability.org
	Priest Ordained in Jail Temporarily Inhibited Living Church Foundation October 16, 2007 http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3877 The Rev. James Tramel, the California priest whose highly publicized ordination occurred while he was in prison, has been temporarily inhibited by the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California. Fr. Tramel, rector of Trinity Church, San Francisco, was inhibited from priestly duties Oct. 9 pending the outcome of a formal investigation by the diocese. The ecclesiastical investigation was prompted after an adult under the pastoral care of Fr. Tramel filed a formal complaint alleging that Fr. Tramel had violated the church's policy on sexual misconduct. The complaint does not involve allegations of criminal misconduct, a diocesan spokesperson said. "We take allegations of misconduct very seriously in the Diocese of California and will proceed with diligence and the highest level of care," the diocese stated in a release. "The spiritual, emotional, and physical well being of all parties is our utmost concern. Because of this, and in compliance with the canons of The Episcopal Church, further details will not be discussed at this time." In 1985, as a 17-year-old student, holding a nomination to attend the United States Air Force Academy, Fr. Tramel and some other students sought one night to confront gang members whom they said had attacked a fellow student. They did not find any gang members in the park in Santa Barbara, but one of the other students stabbed a homeless man to death. Fr. Tramel was found guilty of second-degree murder as a co-conspirator and sentenced to a 15-year-to-life prison term. While in prison, Fr. Tramel underwent a religious transformation, acknowledged his guilt, and later founded an Episcopal congregation in the prison. We invite your response to this article through a Letter to the Editor. Email your letter to tlc@livingchurch.org. Please include your name, city and state. To find more news, feature articles, and commentary about the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion not available online, read The Living Church magazine each week. Call 1-800-211-2771 to start your subscription.
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