Bishop of New Hampshire enters treatment for alcoholism

American Anglican Council Blog ^ | 2/13/2006 | V. Gene Robinson

[DSHambone]

Letter from the Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson February 13, 2006,

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing to you from an alcohol treatment center where on February 1, with the encouragement and support of my partner, daughters and colleagues, I checked myself in to deal with my increasing dependence on alcohol. Over the 28 days I will be here, I will be dealing with the disease of alcoholism-which, for years, I have thought of as a failure of will or discipline on my part, rather than a disease over which my particular body simply has no control, except to stop drinking altogether.

During my first week here, I have learned so much. The extraordinary experience of community here will inform my ministry for years to come. I eagerly look forward to continuing my recovery in your midst. Once again, God is proving His desire and ability to bring an Easter out of Good Friday. Please keep me in your prayers and know that you are in mine.

Your Brother in Christ, +Gene

Letter from the Standing Committee of New Hampshire Diocese February 13, 2006

Dear Colleagues in Ministry,

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of New Hampshire joins its bishop in writing to you about his decision to seek professional treatment for his dealings with alcohol. The Episcopal Church, through its General Convention, has long recognized alcoholism as a treatable human disease, not a failure of character or will.

The members of the Standing Committee fully support and stand with our bishop and his family as he confronts the effects of alcohol on his life, and we commend him for his courageous example to us all, as we pray daily for him and for his ministry among us.

Randolph K. Dales, President, Standing Committee of New Hampshire

[PETEPARSLEY]

The Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans, has broken his silence on the appointment of the world's first openly gay bishop.

In a statement issued Wednesday morning, Archbishop Rowan Williams said the election of Canon Gene Robinson as the next Bishop of New Hampshire would have a "significant impact" on the Church worldwide. And he warned of "difficult days" ahead.

The archbishop, who is considered to be a liberal on such issues, tacitly acknowledged that Anglicans in other parts of the world would be shaken by the New Hampshire appointment. He said: "We need as a Church to be very careful about making decisions for our own part of the world which constrain the Church elsewhere."

GAY...AND...A LIBERAL

[steelcurtain]

Are you kidding? He's gay as a goose. He's notoriously gay. He's queer as a three dollar bill.

So alcoholism is but one of his many problems, to say the least.

[Uriah_lost]

just....shocking....really...

[FormerACLUmember]

alcoholism as a treatable human disease, not a failure of character or will.

Every rule has an exception. For the evil and destructive Gene Robinson it IS a problem of character. He is a monster.

[Flavius Josephus]

Oh. My. Gawd.

[VOA]

Maybe the good bishop went on a bender when he heard that NBC cancelled
"The Book of Daniel"?

[GSlob]

"...Franciscan college where the friars could drink any of the students under the table."
But of course - the students were just that - students, and "the disciple is not better than his master", or something like that. By the time of graduation they were supposed to learn how to hold better - and then, naturally, go on to the postgraduate studies in the same subject. Later, with even more experience at postdoctoral level, they could have become drinking instructors themselves.

[HitmanLV]

"Lord, give me chastity and temperence....but not now." - The wisdom of St Augustine :-)

[Cboldt]

LOL. One good turn deserves another ... http://names.freehosting.net/dirty.html

[outofhere2]

When I think Episcopal, I automatically think weak, homo, joke religion, drunk, "Dowhatchalike", your place or mine, "This is my significant other, now let's bow our heads", NAMBLA's not so bad, we meet in a house of acceptance, ....

[Flavius Josephus]

Celibacy. What a concept. Naaahhhh! No one could ever do that, why that'd be... sick!

[VOA]

GAY...AND...A LIBERAL

Son...gay, liberal and drunk is no way to go through life...

[Flavius Josephus]

I'm astonished you haven't heard about the Gaybish. He caused me to leave the Episcopal church. Well, not just him. Let's just say my experience with the ECUSA lead me to note that The Book of Daniel (the TV series) was not an unreasonable depiction of Episcopal parish life.

[DSHambone]

Thank you ... Dean Werner!!!!!!

ROFLMAO

[Mr. Lucky]

OK, like, this is from Scrappleface, right?

[Hildy]

I honestly didn't know. Oy.

[Flavius Josephus]

All we need is him talking to Jesus and popping vicodan's like pez.

[SmithL]

Episcopal, gay, alcoholic.

Sounds like the premise for a brand new sitcom.

[headsonpikes]

Tut, tut...

Here's a more charitable take: acknowledging his fallen human nature, he is attempting to be the perfect model of a sinner, the "compleat sinner", as it were..