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.

[VOA]

"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.

Careful there Bishop...
you're starting to sound vaguely reminiscent of comedian Sam Kinnison's
rude (but nastily funny) routine about necrophilia...

[KQQL]

Brief history of gay (same-sex) marriages:
-----------------
1989:
Denmark was the first country to grant civil partnership to gay couples.
--------------------
09/00:
Dutch legalize same-sex marriages as of 09/2000.
01/03:
Belgium begins to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
06/03:
In Canada on 06/10/03 the Ontario Court of Appeals authorized immediate marriage for same-sex couples in the province.
07/03:
Also, in Canada on 07/08/03 the British Columbia Court of Appeals authorized immediate marriage for same-sex couples in the province.
11/03:
MA Supreme Court issues Court Order for MA to allow same-sex marriages as of 05/17/04.
02/04:
SF County (SF CA) begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses as of 02/12/04.
02/04:
NM County issues same-sex marriage licenses for one day (02/20/04).
NM AG rules same-sex marriages are illegal under NM laws.
02/04:
New Paltz, NY begins to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies as of 02/27/04.
NY AG rules same-sex marriages are illegal under NY laws on 03/03/04.
On 03/05/04, NY State Judge bars New Paltz Mayor from performing same-sex marriages for a month.
03/04:
Multnomah County (Portland OR) begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses as of 03/03/04.
..............................
Which country/state/county will be next?

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping + The "Gay" Bishop and his wishes - is anyone surprised?

Maybe everyone who is opposed to calling same sex sodomy "marriage" can figure out what states to move to. I can't stand living in a state where sexual deviants are allowed to "wed" with the impimature (?) of Thug/Clown Mayors. And Oregon's no good either, they're doing the dance of deviancy in Portland too.

If anyone wants on or off this ping list, pingify me.

[King Prout]

y'all need to take back your church or secede from it.

[Grampa Dave]

FRN Columnists' Corner - "Outing Gay Marriage" By Rabbi Aryeh Spero
Free Republic Network ^ | 3-2-04 | Rabbi Aryeh Spero


Posted on 03/05/2004 6:23:10 PM PST by Bob J


When Hillary Clinton speaks, Democrats listen. Recently she proclaimed that the upcoming 2004 Presidential election will revolve around the issue of “gay marriage.” Seeing that the economy is rebounding – tax cuts do work – and that Americans, wisely, trust President Bush more than Democrats in our war against terrorism, Democrats are losing the two issues upon which they had hoped to campaign. Enter gay marriage, i.e., the old stand-by social issues favored by Democrats.

But why use gay marriage – which is not supported by most Americans – as the wedge issue when for the past thirty years abortion-at-all-costs, “open abortion,” has been the social issue exploited by Democrats. Mrs. Clinton’s announcement coming as it did just four days after Arnold Schwartznegger’s election as Governor of California reveals a conclusion reached by Liberal chieftains at the post mortem pow-wow: Republicans can carry socially liberal suburbanites while remaining somewhat principled on the issue of abortion. The formula, as demonstrated by Schwartznegger, is to oppose late-term and partial-birth abortion and be in favor of parental notification while, in the name of juridical precedent, not calling to overturn Roe vs. Wade. It’s hard for Democrats to paint forever a candidate as a “religious zealot” when said candidate is not arrayed against Roe v. Wade albeit conservative in every other facet of the abortion controversy.

Having lost, as California showed, their ace-in-the-hole social issue, Democrats will desperately try to convince the public that today’s “religious zealots” – the ones to be feared – are those opposed to gay marriage. Democrats know that here, in contrast to abortion, there is no room to maneuver, since there are no phases and stages, nor are there different facets and scenarios to the question. It is either yes a marriage or not, with even Schwartznegger-type Republicans opposing it, saying no.

Democrats realize most Americans oppose gay marriage, but are convinced that by branding Republicans opposed to it “religious extremists,” the dark cloud of “extremism” will hover over Republican candidates resulting in voters afraid and wary of the candidates’ extremism extending beyond gay marriage into other areas of civic life. In other words, the goal of the religious extremism smear is intended not so much to carry the day for gay marriage as it is as a disqualifier, as a device to brand Republicans as those against any separation of church and state or, due to religion, intolerant.

So while there is no wiggle room here – we are opposed – we can explain our position in such a way that will not have us fall into the trap Hillary Clinton and cohorts have set for us. We do so by justifying our position not on the religious, biblical description of homosexuality as an abomination but on the classic, universal definition of marriage, one held until today even among secularists, namely: marriage is the honored union of man and woman only. Our argument is definitional not theological. It is neutral.

This understanding of marriage is intuitive, so much so that long-winded explanations and philosophic retorts are unnecessary and counter-productive. Our simple but firm definition of what constitutes marriage will ring innately true to those who hear it. People need not be convinced or persuaded by that which they already believe. They do, however, need to be strengthened by having what they believe affirmed and declared by others.

By limiting our rationale to definition only – a baseball is not a football, purple is not green– arguments based on emotion or goodwill become irrelevant. A definition is objective, not subjective. Legal definitions are neutral, they can’t change simply because we will them to. The question is divorced from the fashionable categories of tolerance, fairness, choice, quality relationships. It is simply definitional.

For victory’s sake and so as not to be pigeonholed, the understandable urge to describe homosexuality as an abomination, or unnatural, should during public debate be discarded, for such rationales imply a desire to prohibit such conduct even privately, outside marriage – a stance most Americans will not support given their general belief that personal conduct between consenting adults is a private, non-governmental matter.

Marriage is, however, a public matter, has always and remains today a category requiring state and community sanction. While we don’t record private sexual conduct, we do record at City Hall marriages. As one of society’s legal cornerstones, such as contracts, marriage has from time immemorial – everywhere and in religious and pagan cultures –demanded definition. Its definition, its reality, was long ago established in Western civilization as being a committed union between male and female, publicly acknowledged.

Even in pagan but classic ancient Greece where love between men (and boys) was extolled as better and more pure than that between man and woman, marriage was acclaimed and consummative between men and women only. That which between men was characterized as sex, between man and woman constituted consummation.

Furthermore, were there for some reason to be no homosexual activity between two men in a given relationship, marriage between them would still be an impossibility given that by definition two members of the same gender, even if their relationship is platonic, cannot partner under the historic rubric and understanding of marriage. Thus it is not so much a condemnation of the sexual activity as it is fealty to a legal definition; a category already subsumed within the collective unconscious.

In fact, in Deuteronomy 24:1 when speaking of marriage, Scripture states, “When a man shall take a woman for a wife…”, clearly articulating that such partnership is between man and woman only, though the chapter in which this statement is made is not one dealing with homosexuality nor is reference made to procreation.

For the religious believer, the argument against partnership per se should not be construed as a cop-out given that Scripture itself makes such a point and in today’s world being religious often means simply upholding age-old standards. Furthermore, agnostics can feel comfortable when a position is based not on religion but honest definition. The same applies to those who, while not overtly religious, value the concept of enduring traditions.

Unlike in Europe, most Americans are connected to the notion of traditional values when not overladen by too much religious theology. Unanchored liberals may equalize every conceivable lifestyle, blue-collar Democrats will not.

As demonstrated every time a new social issue arises, liberals will again accuse us of being the political step-children of those who seventy years ago were intolerant of Blacks. Let not our endless desire for atonement on the black/white issue or our need to be hailed as tolerant coerce us to accept new definitions of marriage. While the previous situation may have involved bigotry, opposition to gay marriage is not rooted in bigotry, rather intellectual honesty.

The “slippery slope” argument that gay marriage will lead to even worse scenarios not only weakens our case but also displays a failure to grasp how gay marriage is in itself an unacceptable final frontier, a breaking point. Those such as candidtes John Kerry, John Edwards and the rest of the Democrat team who say they oppose gay marriage yet support civil unions are skirting the issue and playing both sides. Its deleterious effect on society makes it an issue that cannot be finessed by the finessers.

# # #

Rabbi Aryeh Spero is president of Caucus for America. He is a Radio Free Republic talk show host and contributes to national newspapers and journals such as The Washington Times, Policy Review, Human Events, the New York Sun, Jewish World Review, Midstream, Tradition, Judaism and leading Anglo-Jewish weeklies. He can be reached at caucusforamerica@att.net.

[Cultural Jihad]

"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.

Is necrophilia a new 'human right' according to the Episcopal Charch of England?

[He Rides A White Horse]

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.

....so continue to lend your voice to this cause, Mr Robinson.

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.

You've read the Bible, Mr Robinson, and I would love to hear your official paper on how you would square your sexual desires with that of Scripture.

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.

I would think that as a religious figure, you would see both as an equal assault upon Scriptural teaching.

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.

...simply because it is.

[He Rides A White Horse]

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.

This is a very telling statement; spiritual doctrine is being subjected to attempts to explain it in within political doctrines.

That is, there are two views when looking at Scripture; liberal and conservative. None really 'wrong', merely subject to differing viewpoints.

[infowarrior]

How well do twice divorced bishops go over with Episcopalians?

Apparently about as well as bishops who are unrepentanat adulterers. Make no mistake, Gene Robinson is an unrepentanat adulterer, who has been given a "pass" by the liberal theologians of the Episcopal Church, simply because they wanted an openly gay bishop to thrust into the faces of conservatives. Had "Mark" been "Marcia" none of us would be talking about this, as Robinson would never had been nominated, let alone elected or canonized.

But because the arrogant left wanted what they wanted, they turned to "The Gospel of Marx", read therein "The end justifies the means", and saw that in their eyes, that it was good...

the infowarrior

[pepsionice]

Anyone who wants to put themselves into the same category as Britney Spears....has got a few loose screws.

As for the gay marriage thing....I'm starting to think that this would open the door for 3-person marriages...and I could have that second wife I've always dreamed of. Its just not enough to be dogged all day long by one wife...I need a second wife who double the amount of daily torture I get. And this gay marriage thing open up the door for me to marry my cousin too. Oh, and it might even open up the chance for me to marry dead women....like Marlyn Monroe or Dolly Madison or Elenor Roosevelt. This has lots of positive aspects.

[Delta 21]

Where is a crowd of righteous people with a bucket of hot tar and few pillows when you need one?

[hellinahandcart]

Oh, I see. They'll be "married", so it's all okay now. He'll be just like any other divorced and remarried bishop...

(slams forehead into desk)

[Happy2BMe]

GAY MARRIAGE Unlawful - New Paltz, New York Police Chief's Summons (Actual Summons Pics)

D.A.: I'll arrest same-sex wedders - Says homosexuals committing frauds

* * * * *

* * * *

The War For The Soul Of America

QUEERLY BELOVED New York AG: Same-sex marriage illegal

Mayor facing charges for same-sex weddings>
Mayor Jason West

Another city backs same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage comes to N.Y. town

Action filed to remove S.F. mayor, AG

Bush announces support for marriage amendment

Arnold: Terminate same-sex marriage

'Anarchy is breaking loose across America'

Same-sex wedding officiant 'arrested'

Faulty forms to void same-sex marriages?

Judges allow same-sex marriages to continue

Judge delays same-sex marriage ruling

Schwarzenegger urged to arrest S.F. mayor

Same-sex weddings proceed unhindered

Lawsuit challenges homosexual 'marriages'

San Francisco officials marry same-sex couple

San Francisco mayor defies 'gay'-marriage ban

60% of polled Americans: No homosexual marriage

It's 'gay' marriage in Massachusetts

Poll: Massachusetts opposes 'gay' marriage

'Gay' marriage ruling's consequences 'dire'

'Gay' marriage ban struck down in Massachusetts

Bush to block 'gay' marriage - Vatican also launches campaign to battle 'civil unions'

Poll suggests backlash on 'gay' issues

Court strikes down Texas sodomy law

Supreme Court hears 'right to sodomy' case

High court to give 'gays' their own 'Roe'?

[VRWC_minion]

"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.

A uterus ?

[VRWC_minion]

"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.

A bad hangover ?

[VRWC_minion]

that I would never have access to him either in the hospital or at the funeral home or at the grave," Robinson said.

Odd concern for a Christian.

[VRWC_minion]

But these cover only a fraction of the rights they'd have if their relationship was recognized by the state, he said.

Is the fraction 1/1 ?

[mware]

If there wasn't already a schism within the church there will be if this marriage is preformed.

[New Horizon]

If a bishop marries another guy, does that make his rearending of altar boys infidelity?

I think it's unfair to assume he's rearending altar boys. I'm sure it never goes beyond heavy petting and the occasional BJ.

[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.

MORE ATTENTION THAN ME!!!