BOSTON, Jan. 26 -- Church officials said Thursday the bishop of the largest Episcopal diocese in the nation who recently committed suicide had been involved in extra marital relationships throughout his ministry. Church officials in Boston also said Bishop David E. Johnson, 61, apparently had abused his authority by taking sexual advantage of women. 'It is clear that Bishop Johnson was involved in several extra- marital relationships at different times throughout his years of ministry, both as priest and bishop,' the church said in a statement. 'At least some of these relationships appear to have been of the character of sexual exploitation,' the church said, describing 'abuse of authority' as using his position as a bishop or priest 'to the disadvantage of another person.' The church said all the victims were adult women. The church said Johnson's family 'is aware of the facts.' 'While some suspected such behavior, unfortunately no one possessed the factual information necessary to have made these situations known in any venue where appropriate action could have been taken,' the church said. The church said Johnson had struggled with depression over the years and made at least one previous attempt to take his own life. 'We will probably never understand fuly the deep spiritual and psychological turmoil that compelled him to take his own life at this time,' the statement said. Johnson had headed the Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese since 1986. There had been much speculation as to why Johnson killed himself two weeks ago as he made final preparations to retire with his wife to a new home they had recently bought in Kansas.
Johnson's body was found in his Framingham, Mass., apartment on Jan. 15. He had shot himself to death, but no suicide note was found. The Newark, N.J., native is survived by his wife, Joyce, and three grown children.
