Diocese Knew of Bishop's DUI, 'Practiced Forgiveness'

Days after the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland reported its second highest ranking official fatally struck a bicyclist in Roland Park, church officials said they knew Bishop Heather Elizabeth Cook had a DUI charge in her past before bringing her on this year.

On Saturday, Dec. 27, Bishop of Maryland Eugene Sutton said Cook, 58, was involved in a crash that left a bicyclist dead.

In 2010, Cook was charged with multiple offenses including possession of marijuana and driving under the influence of alcohol in 2010. She received probation before judgment and a $300 fine for the DUI, while other charges were dropped.

She was elected bishop suffragan—or second in command behind the bishop of Maryland—in May.

“One of the core values of the Christian faith is forgiveness,” the statement from the Diocese reads. “We cannot preach forgiveness without practicing forgiveness and offering people opportunity for redemption.”

The cyclist in the Saturday wreck, Thomas Palermo, 41, of Anneslie, was a father of two, computer specialist and custom bike builder. Cook was not injured, church officials reported.

Police said preliminarily that it did not appear drugs and alcohol were involved in the weekend crash, The Washington Post reported.

As of Wednesday afternoon, charges had not been filed in the crash.

Related:

• Maryland Bishop Accused of Killing Bicyclist Had Drunk Driving History
• Bicyclists Plan Memorial Ride for Thomas Palermo
• Maryland Bishop Investigated in Fatal Bike Crash

The full statement is below, as released by the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland:

One of the core values of the Christian faith is forgiveness. We cannot preach forgiveness without practicing forgiveness and offering people opportunity for redemption.

As part of the search process, Bishop Cook fully disclosed the 2010 DUI for which charges were filed resulting in a ‘probation before judgment.’ After extensive discussion and discernment about the incident, and after further investigation, including extensive background check and psychological investigation, it was determined that this one mistake should not bar her for consideration as a leader.

We, too are all filled with questions for which there are still no answers, and we are all filled with anger, bitterness, pain and tears. Our thoughts and prayers right now are with Mr. Palermo, his family and friends, and the bicycling community. And, we continue to pray for Bishop Cook in this time of her tremendous grief and sorrow.

Screenshot of Heather Cook from EpiscopalMaryland/YouTube.