Posted on 04/27/2007 6:44:19 PM PDT by fgoodwin
Gay Bishop Will Make Union with Partner Official
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/217/story_21727_1.html
Associated Press Concord, New Hampshire - The Rev. V. Gene Robinson became the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop. Now, he and his partner want to be among the first gay couples in New Hampshire to officially unite under a soon-to-be-signed civil unions law.
New Hampshire is set to become the nation's fourth state to offer civil unions for gay couples after legislation approved by the state Senate on Thursday was sent to Gov. John Lynch, who has said he would sign it.
"I think this moves us one step closer to the American promise to all its citizens of equality under the law," Robinson told The Associated Press. "My partner and I look forward to taking full advantage of the new law."
Robinson, 59, was elected as Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire four years ago, a move that made him a household name but also divided the Anglican community. Earlier this year, Anglican leaders demanded the U.S. denomination step back from its support of gays or risk losing its full membership in the world Anglican fellowship.
Robinson said his long journey began as a boy in Kentucky when he found he was not attracted to women. As an adult, he spent two years in therapy seeking a "cure" for his homosexual urges.
He told his girlfriend, Isabella, about his struggles, but they married anyway in 1972, moved to rural New Hampshire and had two daughters. Robinson eventually realized he would not change and the two divorced.
"The hardest thing is coming out to yourself. You've internalized the same homophobia as the rest of the culture," he said in an interview four years ago.
Soon after the divorce, Robinson met Mark Andrew, who was working for the Peace Corps in Washington. A year and a half later, the two settled in the New Hampshire town of Weare, where Andrew began accompanying Robinson to his daughters' after-school activities.
The two have been together for 18 years now, and Robinson has said they would marry if they could. Andrew, 53, is a state health care administrator.
To many, Robinson has become a symbol of progress. He was welcomed two years ago at New York's gay pride parade by marchers and spectators who reached out to touch his hand, cheered, cried and thanked him.
Robinson praised New Hampshire's move toward civil unions but said more needs to be done. In particular, he said gay couples should have full civil legal rights under federal law.
"I don't think it will happen until we get several more states," he said. "It doesn't have to be a majority, but it has to be a significant number embracing full marriage rights until we can expect that at the federal level."
So far, three states offer civil unions: New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont. Massachusetts in 2004 became the only state to allow gay marriage. Washington, Maine, California, New York City and Washington D.C., recognize domestic partnerships, and New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer this week pledged to introduce gay marriage legislation.
Robinson predicted gays would have full equality in 20 years, and he attributed the gains to gays being open about their homosexuality.
"Fifteen to 20 years ago, most Americans would have told you and been reasonably honest that they did not know a gay or lesbian. Now, there's not a family left, or a co-worker, that doesn't know someone," he said.
Please ping your Anglican list.
now isn’t THAT special ?
And here’s to you, soon-to-be-Mrs. Robinson...
}:-)4
I think this guy’s membership in their clergy is wrong.
Him being gay, and entering into a civil union with a partner, I could care less about.
Non-Christain,,,
I guess he’s out of rehab.
God bless Church Lady for coming up with that phrase.
As for Mr. Robinson, the man makes me sick to my stomach and how I wish he’d GO AWAY!
Soon after the divorce, Robinson met Mark Andrew, who was working for the Peace Corps in Washington. A year and a half later, the two settled in the New Hampshire town of Weare,
Here are two opportunities when he should have stepped down as an Episcopal Priest.
The first when he decided that he could not live as a heterosexual married man. The other when he decided to live as a homosexual.
On each of these occasions he chose to live as a hypocrite and a living assault on his vows.
His superiors in the church also failed in their duty. When he was discovered to be living as a homosexual he should have been counseled, reprimanded and finally defrocked.
Anyone attending this church is just as culpable as their bishop.
We’ve recently taken to attending one of the VA churches that split from the ‘mainstream’ Episcopal Church. What a delight! Frankly, I am looking forward to the Richmond Diocese getting its hypocritical rear kicked in court.
The entire Robinson matter is amazing to me ... how many ministers/rectors have been forced to resign for conducting heterosexual relationships outside marriage? But it’s ok to leave your wife and two children for a male lover. Go figure.
What? You mean he’s been living in sin all this time!
Will she attend the ceremony celebrating the ‘civil union?’ Let’s wait and see just how much media attention THAT one gets.
Interesting choice of words. "Would not", instead of "could not".
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Sounds like they've been RECUITING very effectively (something they swear they don't do, but they must.)
**Robinson said his long journey began as a boy in Kentucky when he found he was not attracted to women. As an adult, he spent two years in therapy seeking a “cure” for his homosexual urges.**
But that could have been the Lord guiding him to a single, chaste [celebate] life as a minister or priest. Does not necessarily mean “gay”. Our society has brought on this misconception in my opinion.
I wonder if it ends up being a good thing that the first gay bishop is so mentally ill. Isn’t it clear that he has a desperate need to have people approve of everything he does.
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[More political /anti-Christian nonsense out of VGR, et. al... --Huber]
Vicky Gene Robinson checked into an alcohol rehab center on Feb. 1, 2006. He spent a month drying out there, and hasn’t returned to anyone’s knowledge so far.
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