Gay bishop says he wants to marry partner

AP | 3/05/04 | ANNE SAUNDERS

[kattracks]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Days before he is to take over as the Episcopal church's leader in New Hampshire, Bishop V. Gene Robinson said he'd marry his same-sex partner "in a minute" if he had the chance.

Robinson, whose election as the church's first openly gay bishop last year had divided Episcopalians, said Friday that the gay marriage issue is one of civil rights.

"It is very irritating to me that Britney Spears, when she traipsed off to be married in Las Vegas, instantly had what my partner and I of 15 years do not have," he told The Associated Press.

Robinson takes over in a Sunday ceremony from retiring Bishop Douglas Theuner at a time when the debate over gay rights, including marriage, is making headlines nationwide.

Robinson's election has been denounced by conservatives in the United States and abroad who say the Episcopal church is operating in violation of Scripture.

Robinson has testified at the New Hampshire statehouse in opposition to a proposed law that would prohibit the state from recognizing gay marriages approved by other states.

He said he'll continue to speak out in favor of civil unions for gays — something he says is entirely separate from whether any church chooses to bless the union.

Robinson said the legal status of his own relationship with his longtime partner, Mark Andrew, especially worried him before Andrew's family accepted him.

"I had a great fear that if Mark was to be killed in a car accident that his family could come in and just take his body — that I would never have access to him either in the hospital or at the funeral home or at the grave," Robinson said.

"That's an unnerving thing," he said. "I'd be married in a minute if I was allowed to."

In the absence of marriage or civil union, Robinson and Andrew put together legal agreements to give each other power of attorney and to share their assets through trusts. But these cover only a fraction of the rights they'd have if their relationship was recognized by the state, he said.

[livius]

My sister said that Vickie would do this! And I thought she was being extreme...

[knak]

I could just scream!! I'm SO sick of this.

[Liberty Valance]

Thats not a church. It's a school for sexual deviantcy.

[judicial meanz]

Me too knak...

[churchillbuff]

I would never have access to him either in the hospital or at the funeral home

er, Mr. Bishop, want kind of "access" are you talking about, ahem ?

[cartoonistx]

Oh, why the Hell not?! Rules?...we don't need no steenkin' rules!

[billorites]

Forty years ago the Episcopal Church was all atwitter about revisions to the Book of Common Prayer, relatively benign changes to the Liturgy.

Now the Bishop in New Hampshire is breathless about wanting to jump the bones of his boyfriend.

Is this a culture war or what?

[gorush]

Did you know that Episcopalians don't play chess?

Apparently they can't tell a bishop from a queen.

[bogdanPolska12]

'I could just scream!! I'm SO sick of this' You are not the only one. I'm totally sick of this filth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[elli1]

"It is very irritating to me that Britney Spears, when she traipsed off to be married in Las Vegas, instantly had what my partner and I of 15 years do not have," he told The Associated Press.

This guy isn't firing on all four cylinders.

[Lijahsbubbe]

It is very irritating to me that Britney Spears, when she traipsed off to be married in Las Vegas, instantly had what my partner and I of 15 years do not have," he told The Associated Press.

Bwahaha! Different sex organs!

[bogdanPolska12]

I am so upset right now. How he can perform ....ah I don't want to think about it. Mark my words Heaven will not sit silently for long. It will strike with total fury and justice for this outrages immoral things. God have mercy.

[ahadams2]

further barf warning - vicki gene wants to get 'married' Ping. yeesh!

[Joee]

Bishop to Knight!! Once a king always a king, but once a Knight is enough!!!

[ahadams2]

I remember you posting that! I thought she was getting a little ahead of things, but boy were we wrong! gak!

[45Auto]

"The heretic differs from the apostate in that he only denies one or more of the doctrines of revealed religion, whereas the apostate denies the religion itself, a sin which has always been looked upon as one of the most grievous."

[gcruse]

Let's see now... this is getting hard to follow.
If a bishop marries another guy, does that make his rearending of altar boys infidelity?

[lepton]

"It is very irritating to me that Britney Spears, when she traipsed off to be married in Las Vegas, instantly had what my partner and I of 15 years do not have," he told The Associated Press.

The theoretical possibility of a successful mating, resulting in the birth of a child?