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  Cleric Dismissed after Texting Explicit Messages to Teen Girl

By Sian Watts
Wales Online
June 11, 2009

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/06/11/cleric-dismissed-after-texting-explicit-messages- to-teen-girl-91466-23845783/

A PRIEST who claimed he had left the church after "losing his faith" has been banned from the clergy after sending lewd text messages to a teenage parishioner.

The Reverend David Waters, was the Rector of St Catwg's Church, Gelligaer, before being removed. At the time he claimed he had been relieved of his duties after "losing his faith".

But a Church in Wales tribunal decided that Rev Waters should be banned after he sent sexually explicit text messages to a girl under the age of 18. Rev Waters was subject to an internal investigation by the Church after being suspended in June 2007.

He resigned from all posts within the church in January 2008.

The Disciplinary Tribunal of the Church in Wales was postponed twice. But it has now emerged that in October last year, it concluded that Mr Waters had admitted to an offence but was mentally ill at the time of his actions.

The 61-year-old will have to provide medical proof before he can be considered fit to practise again.

In November 2007, David Waters gave an in-depth interview to the Echo's sister paper the Merthyr Express, saying he had lost his faith and suffered a mental breakdown, and it was for this reason that he did not feel he could carry out his duties as a member of the clergy.

It is thought he had already admitted sending the inappropriate text messages at this point.

The Disciplinary Tribunal said David Keith Waters accepted he had sent to a female under 18 years of age, "inappropriate text messages, in that they contained words or phrases that were unseemly and of a sexual and intimate nature".

It says he further accepted that such conduct was "scandalous and offensive".

The Tribunal, in a written decision, said the reasons for the penalty imposed included the consideration of medical evidence collected as well as statements from those who knew him well.

The document says: "The respondent was suffering from a major depressive illness of moderate severity."

It said that the illness had stemmed from "the breakdown of the fabric of his life".

The document says David Waters had expressed "profound regret".

It was noted that the allegation constituted no criminal offence and there was no suggestion of an intimate relationship.

It was taken into account the recipient of the text messages did not want the clergyman punished.

A statement from the Church in Wales said: "The Reverend David Waters was referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Church in Wales, in respect of an allegation of conduct giving just cause for scandal or offence committed during his time as an incumbent in the Parish of Gelligaer.

"Having admitted the offence, Mr Waters has been inhibited (prevented) from holding a licence or obtaining permission to officiate in any Diocese in the Church in Wales.

"The Tribunal recognised that at the time of his offences, the Reverend David Waters was suffering from a form of mental illness and the inhibition will remain in force unless and until he provides to a bishop written medical opinion that he is no longer at risk of repeat behaviour, at which stage it would be for the individual bishop to determine the grant of such licence or permission."

The spokeswoman for the Church in Wales stressed that he had not been defrocked.

It is believed David Waters has left the Rectory in Gelligaer. He could not be contacted for comment.

 
 

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