Exclusive: Sex trial looms at Fifth Avenue church
NewsWe have received notification of a complaint filed against St Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, its choir school and a named staff member, who is accused of grooming and seducing a student there some 20 years ago.
The complaint reads, in part:
1 This action arises out of the sexual abuse of the Plaintiff by Defendan [name redacted], a paid choir member, professional singer, and lay clerk at Defendants Church and School, owned, supervised, controlled, and/or operated by or under Defendant Episcopal Diocese of New York, while Plaintiff was a minor….
5. In and around the ages of approximately 10-16 years old Plaintiff attended Defendants Church and School where Plaintiff was repeatedly sexually abused by Defendant [redacted], a paid choir member, professional singer, and lay clerk at Defendant Church and Defendant School.
6. Plaintiff’s claims are timely under the provisions of the Child Victims Act creating a now twoyear window, beginning August 14, 2019, within which to file previously barred claims regarding childhood sexual abuse….
40. In approximately 2004, when Plaintiff was approximately 16 years of age, Defendant first sexually abused Plaintiff. Upon information and belief, Defendant continued to be a paid employee at both Defendants Church and School in 2004 and 2005. During this same time period, approximately 2004 through 2005, Plaintiff was contacted by Defendants School and Church and asked to work on a website project. In that same time period, Plaintiff was also working with Defendant on a Book of Psalms musical compilation intended for Defendants Church and School.
Further documents pertaining to the impending lawsuit can be found here.
St Thomas recently revealed plans to close its choir school.
This is outrageous. The defendant has been performing with Handel & Haydn in Boston, while holding a new position in another city, in another Episcopal diocese. All while the court has been reviewing submissions from all parties, to determine whether all or just some of the charges will hold. Read the link – it doesn’t look good for WB or the church. How can any arts organisation hire someone with such a serious slew of charges hanging over them??? A child predator hiding in plain sight? If this turns out to be the case, alot of people should question the moral judgment of Handel & Haydn for featuring WB in their ensemble. So sorry for the victim!
Interesting to note that the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY has the defendant, WB, currently leading a choir of men and boys while this complaint is active! How is this happening?
At this point these are allegations and charges from over 20 years ago. Nothing has been proven. The Cathedral is practicing “Safe Church Guidelines”. Adults are not left alone with minors. If these are false accusations the defendant is a victim. There are way too many questions that need to be answered. ““Mr. Bynum has given spotless service to the cathedral and we affirm the principle of presumption of innocence,” said the Very Rev. Leander Harding, dean of the cathedral, which is not a party to the lawsuit. He added that during Bynum’s tenure there has not been “any reason for us to doubt his integrity.”