Ginger Soloqua is an Episcopal priest who allegedly had an intimate relationship with a male parishioner, Erik Campano, while an ordinand with the Episcopal Church in Paris.
When the relationship commenced, Strickland was assigned to a non-denominational church that did not have a policy against sexual misconduct. Thus, when she asked about the relationship, she allegedly was given the green light, even though her conduct violated seminary training and Episcopal Church policy.
Campano eventually filed a complaint, but Bishop Pierre Whalen attempted to stonewall the complaint at every turn. This included attempting to discredit Campano, refusing to act on his complaint, and more. Indeed, Strickland’s ordination went through despite the unresolved disciplinary complaint.
Author Judith Herman eloquently describes what the Episcopal Church may be doing to Erik Campano:
“Secrecy and silence are the perpetrator’s first line of defense,” writes Herman. “If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure that no one listens. To this end, he marshals an impressive array of arguments, from the most blatant denial to the most sophisticated and elegant rationalization. After every atrocity one can expect to hear the same predictable apologies: it never happened; the victim lies; the victim exaggerates; the victim brought it on herself; and in any case it is time to forget the past and move on. The more powerful the perpetrator, the greater is his prerogative to name and define reality, and the more completely his arguments prevail.”
For the record, there is no such thing as consent when the relationship involves a priest and her parishioner.
As of 2022, Strickland’s name does not appear in the Church Pension Group’s Episcopal Clergy Finder. she is listed in the Episcopal Clergy Finder under her married name, Virginia Lisbeth Solaqua. She is serving as interim at the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington, MA.
Read more on Survivors Awaken the Church.
She is in ECD under her married name.
Thank you.