[Brian S]

U.S. Episcopal Leaders Approve Openly Gay Bishop
Tue August 5, 2003 08:07 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Episcopal bishops on Tuesday approved the church's first openly gay bishop after an investigation cleared him of 11th-hour allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct.

Sixty-two of the 107 votes in the church's House of Bishops were in favor of New Hampshire Canon Gene Robinson, a decision that could threaten a schism in the global Anglican community.

A one-day church probe dismissed allegations that Robinson sexually harassed a parishioner or that he had anything to do with pornographic links to a Web site for a group he co-founded to help troubled teen-agers.

Robinson's conservative opponents have argued that his relationship with another man violated biblical scripture and warned they will walk out of the convention and split from the U.S. church.

Conservative Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia and Australia have said Robinson's appointment or the U.S. church's approval of a proposed liturgy allowing clergy to bless same-sex marriages will shatter the unity of the 77-million-member Anglican Communion

[JimVT]

Sixty-two of the 107 votes in the church's House of Bishops were in favor of New Hampshire Canon Gene Robinson, a decision that could threaten a schism in the global Anglican community

Could?

Forty-five bishops voted no....there is already a schism!