California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Official Suspended in Church Scandal

The rector of an Episcopal church, described as an eloquent speaker and efficient administrator, has been suspended for his involvement in a sex scandal and embezzling $150,000 in donations. Church officials began investigation the activities of Rev. Victor Wei of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church when a former seminarian claimed that counseling sessions with Wei led to a four-month sexual relationship. Wei, 44, was suspended as rector for three years on July 8 by Bishop William Swing. He was also dismissed as a budget adviser of the national Episcopal Church. Swing said Wei admitted seeking contributions by claiming he was secretly going to rescue Christians facing persecution in China, North Korea and the Philippines. But the bishop said Wei never made any of the trips. Swing and William Diefenbach, senior warden of the vestry committee, confronted Wei on May 21.