The Odd Death of Rev. Bob Carlson

This story is just stunning to me. Before I say anything else, I need to point out that I never met Rev. Bob Carlson and have no idea whether the allegations that are starting to leak out are true or just absolute falsehoods.

It's hard not to leap to comparisons to the Penn State scandal, despite the myriad reasons not to do so. Both men were well respected in their communities, but the similarities pretty much stop there. One is alive and has been criminally charged, the other is dead and has not been charged (and never will be). One is a national news story involving a football coach, and the other is a local tale about a local pastor that has barely made a flicker outside the state.

But for the Bangor area and much of Maine, this is huge. There was NO ONE in the region who was held in higher esteem than Rev. Bob Carlson. He was a man of the cloth, one known for his advocacy for mental health and other health care issues, and known for his support of local law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The testimonials that the political elite in the Bangor area and in Maine put out on Sunday, after news broke of his death, illustrate how he was held in such high regard.

The thought that he would even commit suicide has been so repellent to some people that, in comments on the BDN website, they have insisted that it was an accident - that he must have fallen over the side of the bridge and fallen to his death while trying to prevent someone else from ending their life. So to have it leak out that he was being investigated by police for allegations of child molestation just seems completely bizarre. In less than a week, he went from being publicly honored by the Boy Scouts to being a dead preacher accused of sexually abusing children. It boggles the mind.

Again, I have no clue whether the allegations against Rev. Carlson are true. I know many people have made up their minds about him, right or wrong, in support or in condemnation. I know this must be devastating to many, his family especially, and to others who held him in such high esteem. And I am sure many will continue to sing his praises, regardless of the reasons behind his sudden, unexpected and ignoble demise. How the people of Maine will ultimately reconcile the reputation Rev. Carlson had in life with the ugly rumors rippling to the surface in the wake of his death, or if they will, I have no idea.

What I do have is links. I'm posting those that I can find below in the hopes that they can shed some light on the life of Rev. Bob Carlson in ways that I otherwise cannot.

• BDN: 800 attend Carlson funeral at Orrington church
• BDN: Carlson investigation to stay open 
• WABI-TV: Contents of one accusatory letter made public. 
• PPH Columnist Bill Nemitz on official reaction.
• BDN 11/16: Funeral arrangements scaled back in wake of spread of allegations.
• BDN 11/16 story: Former sheriff had concerns.
• BDN 11/15 story on anticipated demand for sexual assault counseling services.
• Sen. Susan Collins' statement on Rev. Carlson's death.
• Statement from Sen. Olympia Snowe and Gov. John McKernan.
• A BDN story about a woman who was counseled by Carlson after she nearly jumped from the same bridge.
• BDN story: No Foul Play in Carlson death (includes statement by U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree)
• Carlson's obituary.
• BDN story: Carlson memorial service to be held Friday.
• WCSH television website article about some allegations against Carlson.
• Carlson quoted in a October 2011 BDN story about a drug abuse forum.
• A January 2011 Carlson-written op/ed piece in the BDN on federal health care law.
• Another BDN op/ed, in which Carlson urges a 'yes' vote in a 2010 referendum.
• A 2010 BDN story about an AIDS network joining Carlson's organization.

One thing I can't link: the many obituaries on the BDN website that indicate which memorial services Rev. Carlson officiated.