Chicago, IL 60657
E-mail: : ( )
COMPLAINT FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST A BISHOP
In the Matter of Chilton Knudsen, formerly Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
To the Intake Officer under Canon IV of the National Canons of The Episcopal Church:
1. Chilton Knudsen is a Bishop of The Episcopal Church in the United States of America. She was consecrated in Maine in 1997 and retired in 2008. Since her retirement, she has held a number of “assisting bishop” positions, including in New York, Washington, DC, Maryland, and beginning in 2021, Chicago. She had been ordained in Chicago and served as a parish priest and canon to Chicago bishop Frank Griswold who co-consecrated her as bishop of Maine.
2. Complainant David G. Duggan is a long-time member of the Diocese of Chicago, confirmed in 1965 by the Rt. Rev. James Montgomery (deceased). He has served on the board of one of the Episcopal Charities of Chicago and as senior warden of a now-defunct parish in the Diocese. He was also the award-winning columnist for the Anglican Advance, the now-defunct periodical sent to Episcopalians in the Diocese of Chicago. Duggan is a lawyer admitted to practice in New York and Illinois and has represented clergy in the Diocese of Chicago charged with disciplinary violations.
3. As assisting bishop, Knudsen was evidently cloaked with the authority to ordain–or not–new priests. Will Bouvel, a “married” homosexual man with an adopted daughter, evidently petitioned Knudsen for ordination, evidently with the approval of Bouvel’s parish, St. Chrysostom’s in Chicago.
4 On June 23, 2022, Duggan hand-delivered to the diocesan offices a letter objecting to Bouvel’s upcoming ordination. Fearing that the contents of the letter would be revealed, Duggan inscribed on the envelope “Confidential–to be opened by the Bishop only.”
5. In the letter, Duggan made three requests: 1) that the ordination not proceed; 2) that if the ordination were to proceed the letter be read to the congregation during that portion of the service when the bishop asks if an attendee knows of “any impediment or crime because of which we should not proceed, [to] come forward now, and make it known” (BCP p. 527); and 3) that the letter be placed in the Diocesan archives. As stated in the letter Duggan did not attend the ordination.
6. On information and belief, based on statements made in open court on January 30, 2023, Knudsen did not respect Duggan’s request for confidentiality of the communication. Instead, she called Bouvel and together they decided to hire a security guard to prevent Duggan from voicing his objection to the ordination at the impending service notwithstanding the counsel of Scripture.
7. Following the ordination, Bouvel used this letter as an “act of stalking” to justify the entry of an “emergency no-contact order of protection” against Duggan. This required Duggan to engage the services of counsel to defend against the entry of this order. Since then, Duggan has paid counsel more than $84,000 to have the “no stalking” order vacated and Bouvel’s petition dismissed at a hearing held on January30, 2023. The judge held that the alleged acts including Duggan’s letter were not “stalking” as a matter of law.
8. As a bishop, Knudsen is still governed by the canons of the Episcopal church regarding confidentiality of communications. Canon 4, sec. 1 provides : “In exercising his or her ministry, a Member of the Clergy shall: a. respect and preserve confidences of others ...”
9. Knudsen never requested to be relieved of Duggan’s request for confidentiality of his communication objecting to Bouvel’s ordination until the appointed time in the service. Instead, she blatantly contacted at least the prospective ordinand and engaged the services of a security guard.
10. This violation of Duggan’s expectation of confidentiality has caused Duggan significant spiritual turmoil and financial pain. The diocese has only lamely offered Duggan spiritual counsel and sacramental services by suggesting that he seek the ministrations of a minister located in Barrington, IL, more than one-hour’s drive from Duggan’s Chicago residence.
For these reasons, Duggan requests pursuant to Canon IV:
A) That a hearing panel be convened to investigate these charges of violation of the Canons;
B) That the Diocese of Chicago be ordered to reimburse Duggan for the attorney’s fees he has incurred and paid to be relieved of the meritless order of protection; and
C) that he have such other and further relief as is just, equitable, and consistent with Biblical principles and the Christian faith.
Dated: Chicago, IL June 30, 2023
Faithfully submitted,
S/__________________________
David G. Duggan