Charges Stall Confirmation of Gay Bishop

Washington Post ^ | 8/5/2003 | Alan Cooperman

[ex-Texan]

Charges Stall Confirmation of Gay Bishop

Episcopalians Investigate Last-Minute Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 4 -- On the verge of a historic vote, a convention of Episcopalian leaders was thrown into sudden disarray today when opponents raised allegations involving inappropriate touching and pornography against the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who is awaiting confirmation as the first openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Church officials said that even though the allegations came at the last minute and might be part of a smear campaign, they would be investigated, forcing the indefinite postponement of a vote on Robinson by the church's senior bishops.

Robinson, 56, did not immediately respond to the allegations. The church's presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, read a statement to the convention's hushed House of Bishops saying that Robinson had requested that "a thorough investigation be undertaken before we proceed."

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[ex-Texan]

DUH !! I am at a loss for words. No, I'm not. I'm biting my tongue.

[AlaskaErik]

Charges Stall Confirmation of Gay Bishop

Let's set the record straight (no pun intended). This bishop is not gay, he is a homosexual. And if he is a practicing homosexual, then he is a soddomite and a sexual deviant. Too bad the press can't seem to make this simple distinction.

[Middle Aged White Male]

I am not going to say anything about the wisdom of a homosexual bishop,but the charges sounded bogus as they were reported...

[ex-Texan]

Yeah. I know how you feel. Allegations are just allegations are just allegations. But if some victims file law suits it will get really interesting.

[Jimbaugh]

Check out http://www.leavethekidsalone.com/ and then tell me this charge is wrong.

[Waco]

Ha Ha Ha! OK Episcos, hit yer knees and lick yer lips, your reward is at hand!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha

[WorkingClassFilth]

This crap is like heroics in the bunker as the thud of shells hits the roof.

Thinking they're going to charge out with a technically theological pistol and defeat their foes, the Episcopalians that adhere to traditional Christian doctrine a already dead.

Too bad you guys.

Your church was dead long ago and the undertakers you educated in your seminaries are merely burying your feeble and dessicated remains.

[umgud]

If my church ever even reached the point it would consider a gay bishop, I'd be gone regardless the outcome.

[LiteKeeper]

I heard a priest interviewed last week who said that if the confirmation process got as far as it did, they had a surprise awaiting Mr Robinson (I am a pastor also, and I will not bestow the title Reverend on this poseur). I suspect the timing was more like an "ace-in-the-hole." If all else failed, they would pull this information out from their archives. It sounds to me as if, had the confirmation process not gone this far, this information would have be sat on.

[ex-Texan]

There are spicific allegations by a man seeking admission to the Priesthood. He says the Bishop to be confirmed had 'touched him' in an offensive manner and is affiliated with a kiddie porn web site.

New Free Republic Post.

[Middle Aged White Male]

Ok, but listen to this quote...
"A man identifying himself as David Lewis of Manchester, Vt., e-mailed the bishop of Vermont on Sunday with the allegation. The writer said the Rev. Gene Robinson "put his hands on me inappropriately every time I engaged him in conversation" at a church event a couple of years ago. "
http://www.newsday.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=sns-ap-episcopalians-allegations&section=%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fwire

Can we honestly believe that the Reverend molested this man at every conversation? It seems like a homophobic man who is uncomfertable having someone's hand on his shoulder...

[churchillbuff]

a homophobic man

Well, in the same e-mail the accuser also urged the bishops to approve same-sex blessings. Maybe that was to make him sound gay-friendly and give his charge against Robinson more credibility, but it would be possible to test that thesis - because the guy is not a mystery character, he's a well known arts journalist in New Hampshire.

[Middle Aged White Male]

Good point, I haven't found the full email posted anywhere. The story sounded fishy in the articles I have read.