Worcester Bishop Mcmanus Charged with Drunken Driving
By Shaun Sutner
Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus was arrested Saturday night in Narragansett, R.I., and charged with drunken driving and refusing a chemical test. The bishop was in a hit-and-run accident on Boston Neck Road, according to Narragansett Police Capt. Sean Corrigan. The other driver, whose car the bishop allegedly hit, was not injured, Capt. Corrrigan said. The man followed the bishop and called police, Rhode Island TV station NBC10 reported. The accident occurred near the bishop's vacation home at 215 Col. John Gardner Road in Bonnet Shores, a picturesque enclave with waterfront views and million-dollar homes near Narragansett Beach. The bishop's property in Narragansett is valued at $476,400, according to town assessor records. The 1,200-square-foot ranch-style house with its ocean view was once the home of Bishop McManus' mother, said Raymond Delisle, Worcester Diocese spokesman. A 911 call to the police at 10:32 p.m. reported an erratic driver, according to the Narragansett Police Department log. Police arrested Bishop McManus, 61, at his home. He was released on a summons and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in district court in Wakefield, R.I. Police declined to release the report on the incident until after arraignment. Bishop McManus, has headed the Worcester Catholic Diocese since 2004. A Rhode Island native who grew up in Narragansett, he is the former auxiliary bishop of the Providence diocese. The bishop did not say Mass in Worcester Sunday. He was not scheduled to preside over the Mass because he was in Narragansett at a family gathering, Mr. Delisle said. Bishop McManus was at work at his office in the diocese chancery this morning, Mr. Delisle said. He said the bishop's salary is around $25,000 a year. The bishop "retained a lawyer himself," Mr. Delisle said. The bishop released a statement this morning: “On Saturday evening, May 4, I made a terrible error in judgment by driving after having consumed alcohol with dinner. There is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action. More importantly, I ask forgiveness from the good people whom I serve, as well as my family and friends, in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Providence.” Initial reaction in the diocese appeared supportive. “Like any brother in our family that this could happen to, I would support him,” said the Rev. John Madden, pastor of St. John's Church in downtown Worcester. “All of us have made mistakes in judgment. Like he's said, we can only apologize and make amends.” Several parishioners leaving today's noontime Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in downtown Worcester said they are standing behind the bishop. “He's a great guy. He's really respected in the diocese. We're all human beings and we all seem to have a misjudgment,” said Greg Pike, 54, of Auburn, who comes to the Mass most days. “We don't know all the facts. They will come out in the disposition.” Mr. Pike said Bishop McManus should be able to survive the incident “as long as it doesn't happen again.” He added: “It wouldn't interfere with his administrative duties to lead the diocese.” John McCabe of Worcester said he was surprised by the news. “I don't know what to say,” Mr. McCabe said. “I thought he was a very holy person, and a nice guy.” Another prominent Catholic leader who was arrested recently on a drunken driving charge did not see his career negatively affected by the incident. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone was arrested in August 2012 at a police checkpoint in San Diego; at the time he was the archbishop-elect. He went on to plead guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving and was officially made bishop in October 2012. A spokeswoman for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops referred questions to the Worcester Diocese.
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