BALTIMORE – The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland says a church leader was concerned a bishop-elect accused of hitting a bicyclist while drunk had been intoxicated at a dinner before her consecration last year.
Heather Cook was charged with killing the cyclist Dec. 27 in Baltimore, nearly four months after that dinner. She left the scene before returning.
An official timeline of Cook's election and her Sept. 6 consecration reports Bishop Eugene Sutton told the presiding bishop he was concerned "Cook is inebriated during pre-consecration dinner."
The timeline says Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori "indicated she would discuss with Cook." The timeline says another bishop met with Cook, but the details are known only to Jefferts Schori's office.
A national church spokeswoman declined to comment Tuesday, citing confidentiality concerns.
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