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	Dallas Episcopal Diocese Suspends Priest for 3 Years over Harassing Women By Brooks Egerton The Dallas Morning News August 29, 2009 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-episcopal_29met.ART.State.Edition1.4bb7bc8.html Dallas Episcopal Diocese officials confirmed Friday that they have suspended another priest, this time for harassing women. It's the second acknowledgment this week of misconduct that was serious enough to warrant a man's removal – at least temporarily – from the ministry. The first case to come to light involves the Rev. William Warnky, whom Bishop James Stanton suspended effective Monday. He acted because financial regulators barred Warnky from securities trading and ruled that he owes an ex-parishioner $50,000 for stock fraud. The case that surfaced Friday involves the Rev. Keith Roberson, whom Stanton stripped of his collar for three years for "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy." That punishment was quietly handed down two months ago. Stanton's top aide, Bishop Suffragan Paul Lambert, said the misconduct was directed at women at the Terrell church where Roberson worked part time, Good Shepherd Episcopal. "It was more harassment than anything," Lambert said. "It was nothing physical." Roberson declined to comment Friday. He runs an optical repair business in Fort Worth called J.R. Optical, whose Web site says: "I am an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church and I uphold the values and character traits associated with a life of personal commitment and service to the Lord. I live by the Scripture verse 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' I am honest, open, professional, congenial, and stand by my word." Lambert said Roberson previously left another parish – he wouldn't say which one or when – amid controversy. "It was a bad match," he said. "It was not sexual harassment." Years ago, Roberson also worked briefly as a fill-in priest at Good Samaritan Episcopal, near White Rock Lake. Warnky was the part-time priest in charge of that church for about six years, ending with this week's suspension. Church officials haven't decided yet how long he will be out of the ministry. Contact: begerton@dallasnews.com
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