Conservative Babylon

Claims to fame: Episcopal priest, Holy Cross Church, Street, Maryland; former minister, Holy Trinity Church, Troy, Montana; former rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Libby, Montana; former owner, Yaak River Lodge; current owner, Dirty Shame Saloon & Yaak River Cabins, Yaak, Montana; teetotaler; accused child molester

Moral apex: Arrested December 22, 2010, and indicted on charges of “molesting a 15-year-old girl in June 2006 and an 8-year-old girl in September 2010,” per TheWesternNews.com, January 4, 2011, and awaiting extradition from Montana to Maryland.

Now, of course, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. But we just can’t get over the many ironies in this story, beginning with— well, just read…

Memorable quotes & observations:

An Episcopalian priest and his wife — neither of whom drinks alcohol — have bought the Dirty Shame in the Yaak along with the gambling license. …

“It’s still the Dirty Shame, but a tad bit more sedate,” said bar manager Joleen Calvi. …

Don Belcher is a former executive for a pharmaceutical company, importer of wines and stock broker. He discovered the Yaak on a fly fishing trip in 1988.

Gloria Belcher was a stock broker for 20 years. She is working toward becoming an ordained Episcopalian chaplain. …

— “Teatotaling [sic] clergyman and wife take over Dirty Shame Saloon“
TheWesternNews.com
July 12, 2006

Moved back to Maryland about 5 years ago and am now priest at Holy Cross Church in Street, MD. My wife and I purchased the Dirty Shame Restaurant and Saloon along with six small hunting cabins last year in Yaak, MT, which Gloria is fixing up and running. … I’m extraordinarily healthy for 78, and proud of my association with the University — although I am socially and politically conservative as one should expect from my generation. …

— Donald Belcher ‘51
Alumni News
The Daily Pennsylvanian
January, 2007

Western Montana festivalgoers shed tears in their beers last week as owners of the Yaak’s Dirty Shame Saloon cancelled the bar’s annual Cajun Crawfish Festival, extending a two-year hiatus on a most revered and notorious middle-of-nowhere shindig deep in the Kootenai National Forest.

“It’s the same Dirty Shame, but it’s more for families now,” says Gloria Belcher, who purchased the saloon just over two years ago. “And now it’s non-smoking,” Belcher adds.

— “Less dirt, less shame“
Missoula Independent
May 22, 2008

Behind the bar was the new owner Don Belcher, who turned out to be quite the character. My cycling buddy was whining about getting too old for these long bike rides, and Don jumped right in with, “How old do you think I am?” …

Then we found out he was also an Episcopal Priest who had recently bought the saloon and, I suspect, been responsible for toning down the crowd.

— “The Not-So-Dirty Shame Saloon“
NewWest.net
August 17, 2009

Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Belcher: Nothing, until we learn how this turns out.

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2. Cardiff Archbishop Aide & Stonewall Bigot of the Year Nominee Who Blamed Gay Men for Catholic Sex Abuse Epidemic Resigns from Cardiff Uni
3. New Jersey Priest Richard Milewski Accused of Child Sex Abuse Against 13-Year-Old Boy in Mid-1980s
4. Video: Sandy McGriff Tells Her Side of the Story

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