Leaders in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland who this spring made Heather Elizabeth Cook a bishop ”” the diocese’s first female bishop ”” knew the ugly details of her 2010 drunk-driving arrest but determined “that this one mistake should not bar her for consideration as a leader,” the diocese said in a statement Tuesday.
Now the diocese finds itself under fire after Cook’s acknowledgment that she was involved in a crash on Saturday that killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo, the father of two small children. Cook left the scene but returned later, Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton said in a statement Monday.
Baltimore police said they have questioned a woman about the crash, but they have not named Cook and no charges have been filed.
Cook’s attorney, David Irwin, declined to comment in detail but has confirmed she was involved in the crash.
Read it all and pray for all involved.
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