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	Bishop's Chaplain Says She Is to Split from Husband By Martin Shipton icWales March 7, 2008 http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/uk-news/2008/03/07/bishop-s-chap lain-says-she-is-to-split-from-husband-91466-20571794/ THE woman priest whose friendship with the Bishop of St Davids has prompted calls for him to face a formal investigation revealed yesterday that she is to separate from her husband. Last month Bishop Carl Cooper and his wife Joy announced they were separating after 25 years of marriage. They said no one else was involved in the split. A number of clerics in the Diocese of St Davids have called on the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, to launch an inquiry to establish whether Bishop Cooper has given "just cause for scandal". Yesterday, in a written statement to the Western Mail, the Rev Mandy Williams-Potter, the Bishop's chaplain and communications officer, said she was separating from her husband, but dismissed speculation she was having an affair with the Bishop. She stated, "I am not in an inappropriate relationship with Bishop Carl." She added, "I confirm that my husband, Chris, and I are planning to separate, but at present are still living together. "There is no one else involved in the break-up of our marriage. The two marital breakdowns are tragically coincidental and not connected in any way." Mrs Williams-Potter, 38, and her husband, a teacher, have two children aged 12 and six, and have been married for 13 years. They live just a mile away from the Bishop's Palace near Carmarthen the official residence of Bishop Cooper. Mrs Williams-Potter has admitted she is close to the Bishop because of her role as his communications officer. But she firmly denies being to blame for the break-up of the Bishop's 25-year marriage. She said, "I know about the rumours but I don't know where they have come from. But there is nothing in them. Obviously someone has been spreading this information but I don't know who it could be." Mrs Williams-Potter's disclosure that her marriage may be over comes just two weeks after the Bishop's announcement he was separating. In a joint statement he and his wife said they were experiencing difficulties but there was no one else involved. But two vicars in the diocese recently asked colleagues to petition the Archbishop of Wales for an investigation into father-of-three Bishop Cooper's private life. Their letter was delivered yesterday to Archbishop Dr Barry Morgan for a decision. In a letter sent to fellow clerics, the Rev Dr Will Strange, Vicar of St Peter's, Carmarthen, and the Rev Peter Jones, Vicar of Llangennech, near Llanelli, said, "We write this letter with a heavy heart. It is an appeal to you to join with us in petitioning the Archbishop and the Bench (of Bishops) to institute a process under Chapter XI of the Constitution. The aim of this process would be to establish the facts surrounding the Bishop's current situation and to take whatever action, if any, proves necessary. "This is not a welcome responsibility for any of us. But ... we are convinced that if the Church has established a procedure for such situations, it should apply equally to all clergy of whatever rank. We believe that if we, as parish clergy, were in a comparable situation, we would be subject to the tribunal process at the Bishop's instigation. And we believe that process would be proper and justified. "Signing this letter is not in any sense to prejudge what the process may determine and decide. It is not even to assume that there is anything untoward to discover. But it is an opportunity to say that where there is a perception of 'conduct giving just cause for scandal and offence', the circumstances should be subject to the Church's investigative and disciplinary procedures. "For us as clergy to do any less would be to acquiesce in a situation which is causing distress across the diocese to many, both lay and ordained." The letter concludes, "Whether or not you decide to join in signing the letter, we will all join in united prayer for the Bishop and everyone personally involved in the situation." The Bishop, who was appointed in 2002, has so far refused to comment further. Last night a spokeswoman for the Archbishop of Wales said, "The Archbishop has now received a letter and is in discussion with those involved."
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