THE DEFENDANT WAS LATE when the Episcopal church's Court for the Trial of a Bishop convened shortly before last Christmas. The presiding judge, a fellow bishop, asked him to introduce himself. "I'm Walter Righter," he said -- " heretic."

THE DEFENDANT WAS LATE when the Episcopal church's Court for the Trial of a Bishop convened shortly before last Christmas. The presiding judge, a fellow bishop, asked him to introduce himself. "I'm Walter Righter," he said -- " heretic."