Vote On Gay Bishop Delayed; Allegations Surface

nbc4.com, Minneapolis ^ | August 4, 2003

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The vote on confirming a gay Episcopal bishop was postponed Monday in light of allegations of pornography and inappropriate conduct, a church spokesman said.

A vote was expected Monday in Minneapolis that could make a New Hampshire clergyman, the Rev. Gene Robinson, the church's first openly gay elected bishop.

The spokesman said the postponement came after allegations emerged involving "touching" and "pornography." He declined to elaborate.

The church's House of Deputies has voted overwhelmingly to approve Robinson, who faces a final vote in the House of Bishops.

Robinson says Sunday's results make him feel "very peaceful on the inside" and "very humbled."

But the American Anglican Council, which represents conservative bishops and parishes, said it is "deeply grieved" by the results.

Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, has lived with his partner, Mark Andrew, for 13 years.

Bishops who believe gay sex is a sin say the approval of Robinson will weaken and divide the denomination and spark a bitter fight over parish property and funds.

But liberals say the threat has been exaggerated and note that many conservatives had pledged to break ties before over issues such as ordaining women but did not follow through.

[DWPittelli]

Ministers must be "blameless" (i.e beyond reproach)

Yes, but it's pretty hard to argue, as I think you do, that one must have always been beyond reproach, given the example of Saint Augustine, a Saint of course, as well as a Bishop and one of the fathers of the early church.

[Fury]

I believe there may be a difference between the process itself and the thought behind the process. Lower animals (e.g. goats, sheep, etc.) must conform to these processes every day (unless ill of course) - ruminating, eliminative behavior, etc. In certain times of the year, there is the process to reproduce, is a process which like the others, is instinctive.

Humans have a degree of reasoning and senescence that is more advanced. This ability to reason means that humans can have sexual relations "just because" and also because they desire to procreate. In both cases, the process of "sex" is the same - the reasons behind the act are different.

[MineralMan]

"Humans have a degree of reasoning and senescence that is more advanced. This ability to reason means that humans can have sexual relations "just because" and also because they desire to procreate. In both cases, the process of "sex" is the same - the reasons behind the act are different."

The process is identical in all mammals, except for the platypus, echidna, and some marsupials. The methods of selection of mates differs, of course, but the process is the same.

I won't detail that process here, since it is universally understood.

Yes, we are intelligent mammals and do exercise some judgment (at least sometimes) in our mating process. However, any fertile male and female human may create a new human, using the same process as used by any mouse pair. No deity is involved in either.

[Fury]

Agreed on the process part, and you put forth your positions very well.