Former Governor McGreevy Seeks to Become Episcopal Priest

Organized crime and New Jersey are almost synomonous, but not just because of the movies, Atlantic City and the boardwalk Casinos. Governor John Corzine, in hot water over appointing a lover to high-paid state position, lies in the hospital recovering from an accident that would have been avoided had his driver followed the posted speed limit. Such moral lapses make for some great Jay Leno one liners, and the reputation of New Jersey continues on life support.

Former Governor Jim McGreevey resigned in a bribery scandal. With his wife and family by his side, Jim offerred a defense for the corruption, "I'm Gay." Jim conducted an extramarital affair with a staff aide. He appointed the aide to be the Head of New Jersey homeland security in the days after September 11, 2001. That aide, Golan Cipel, denies the "affair" and has insisted that he was sexually assaulted by McGreevey. Golan Cipel had virtually no qualifications for the position. McGreevey also satisfied his sexual appetite at book stores and truck stops.

In the last few years, McGreevey has been through extensive therapy and soul-searching, including many prayer sessions with an Episcopal group. The 49-year-old McGreevey, whose Catholic faith and schooling was central to his public image, has been accepted into a three-year master of divinity program at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, the school confirmed Wednesday. This seminary is located in an area of town populated by gay bars. The Episcopal Church has embraced openly gay priests for many years. The Episcopal Church worldwide is engaged in a debate over the role of homosexuals, and reconciling the Bible with the practice. The Catholic Church, itself a victim of many homosexual scandals, is quite clear in declaring homosexuality to be a sin.

"There are many people who think they don't have what it takes to be a priest," said the Rev. Kevin P. J. Coffee of Episcopal Church of the Atonement. "But actually, God tends to take the bruised and broken reed and work through that."