Our Fabulous Florida Bishops, Snapshot #5

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 10, 2003

In March of 2002, by a truly astonishing coincidence, Bishop Robert "We almost have a hang-up with sex" Lynch of St. Petersburg admitted to "crossing boundaries" by means of inappropriate demonstrations of affection for his Director of Communications:

Urbanski alleged that the bishop: rubbed down Urbanski's legs and upper body after he had competed in a triathlon, booked only one hotel room for the two of them when they traveled together on a couple of occasions, frequently invited Urbanski to his house after work to swim in his pool, and took pictures of Urbanski in his Speedo bathing suit.

"The bishop felt he was close enough to Bill and his family that he could take off his collar and just be Bob," said Lynch's attorney. Urbanski got a $100,000 pay-off.

"Do I wish I didn't feel his biceps? Yes," Lynch said. "Do I understand the confusion? Of course. But I know what I did do, and what I didn't do. It's in the eye of the beholder."

We love our bishops.