Leader of US Orthodox church quits
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) — The leader of the New York-based Orthodox Church in America has resigned amid questions about whether he failed to report an allegation of a rape by a priest to church officials or law enforcement.
The church issued a statement from Washington Archbishop Metropolitan Jonah saying he submitted his resignation July 6. The letter from Jonah had come at the request of the Holy Synod of Bishops. Jonah did not refer to the rape allegation.
The church issued a three-page statement July 16. It said Jonah had failed to report to authorities a 2010 rape allegation involving an unidentified priest. It said an investigation of the allegation was being performed by the church.
There are 80,000 church members in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Jonah has no listed telephone number.
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