Episcopal priest Ben Day wins battle, loses war

Cobb County, GA, judicial records indicate that Art Blackburn, a former parishioner at Christ Church, Kennesaw, GA, pled guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to a year’s probation. And while some may argue that Episcopal priest Ben Day got what he wanted — which was a court ruling that would chill Blackburn’s First Amendment rights to criticize Day’s conduct — a closer look reveals that Day lost.

Big time.

The uproar had its roots in Day’s alleged extramarital affair with a parishioner, Mallory, whom he later married. At the time of the adulterous affair, Mallory was almost nine months pregnant with Blackburn’s child.

Predictably enough, Blackburn, a decorated war hero who has late-stage cancer, was unhappy.

In the ensuing back-and-forth, Day falsely denied in writing that Mallory was a parishioner when they met. He also allegedly did several additional unethical things, including:

• Suborning perjury from Mallory.
• Falsely claiming that Blackburn had threatened him.
• Falsely claiming that Blackburn had threatened sexual harm to his son, now living with Mallory and Day.
• Contacting the prosecutor in an effort to influence her official actions.
• Proferring perjurious testimony.
• Engaging in spoliation of evidence.

In addition, both the judge and the prosecutor evinced clear bias against Blackburn. Indeed, the prosecutor herself acknowledged the judge’s hostility to Blackburn, even as she went forward with the case, despite actual knowledge of Day’s perjury.

So, doesn’t that mean that Day won?

Not at all.

Blackburn, parishioners of Christ Church, the news media, and this publication all retain their First Amendment rights to criticize Day’s conduct.

Moreover, the Title IV clergy disciplinary complaint Anglican Watch filed against Day is alive and well, and the Diocese of Atlanta is now investigating.

But no matter how the Title IV case plays out, all the world can see Ben Day for who he is: A slimy dirtbag of dubious veracity.

Indeed, no matter how you parse it, a priest who brings legal action against a current or former parishioner is inherently suspect.

Add to the mix Day’s fabrications about running a political consulting firm — which were part of his efforts to get voted into local elected office — and the issues with his violation of Cobb County court orders to stop drinking, and it’s clear Day has no business serving as clergy.

Moreover, Day’s assertion that this publication is a proxy for Blackburn is laughable. Anyone with even a casual knowledge of Anglican Watch knows we call things as we see them — with a strong bias in favor of anyone who is being bullied. Sometimes, as in the Montvale, NJ case, we come down on behalf of clergy. Other times, we stand up for laity. But we always make our own decisions.

In this instance, we emphatically are on Blackburn’s side. We will continue to watch Day closely, and we will immediately flag any further misconduct on Day’s part.

Meanwhile, we encourage parishioners to withhold funding. Any priest who goes after a decorated combat veteran with late-stage cancer, who commits perjury, who lies about his political background, and who sleeps with parishioners is dirt and not someone we should subsidize. (For the record, we are not fans of withholding support randomly. But when evil’s afoot, we must act.)

As to Day’s future, we cannot envision a parish that would hire someone with Day’s ethical history.

If nothing else, Day has amazingly bad judgment if he thought he’d take a parishioner to court and not draw outside scrutiny.

So, Day’s best bet is to resign the priesthood and find a job in a position that doesn’t require a background check.

Anything else is going to be a non-starter.