Pastor Defends Worcester Bishop Arrested for Drunk Driving

The Necn
May 6, 2013

http://www.necn.com/05/06/13/Pastor-defends-Worcester-Bishop-arrested/landing.html?blockID=840145&feedID=11106

[with video]

(NECN: Mike Cronin) - Worcester's Roman Catholic bishop is asking for forgiveness and says he has no excuse after being arrested this weekend for driving under the influence. Bishop Robert McManus was arrested Saturday night in Rhode Island.

“He should have had a designated driver. It would be wiser,” says Cheryl Goguen.

Police in Narragansett, R.I. say it happened around 10:30 Saturday night. He allegedly drove drunk, hit another car and continued driving. The person in that car was not seriously hurt. Police say he also refused to a chemical test.

“He's a terrific man, he's a great priest, a wonderful bishop, but he's a human being,” says St. John’s Church Pastor John Madden, who has known McManus since he became bishop nine years ago. He says he was very surprised by the news.

“Many have made the same mistake that he has made and I think just no excuses, just an apology and a commitment to grow and to move forward and that's all any of us can do with the mistakes we make.”

In a statement, McManus says he made a terrible judgment error after drinking alcohol with dinner. He says in part, "there is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action."

“I felt sad, I felt disappointed, and I know he did, too,” says parishioner Bob George, who attended noon mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul Monday.

Drawing from the Catholic Church’s history, he says the church is resilient.

“There's been so many difficulties down through the 2000 years, it's God's church.”

Meanwhile, Madden says everyone makes mistakes. He says, if anything, good will come out of McManus's actions.

“We've tried to grow from them and I'm sure that he will, too, and we'll grow along with him. He'll be an example to us.”