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News from 365Gay.com
Consecrated & Condemned
by Michael J. Meade
365Gay.com Newscenter
Boston Bureau
Posted: November 3, 2003 12:01 a.m. ET
judebennett's commentary in red
(Durham, New Hampshire) Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man to be made a bishop in the worldwide Anglican faith was installed in a glittering ceremony as mounted police separated noisy protestors outside.
People going into the service had to pass through metal detectors and have their bags checked by sniffer dogs.
In a service that combined pageantry and ritual Robinson was overcome with emotion several times. The service was conducted by the head of the Episcopal Church, presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. The highlight came as some 45 bishops laid hands on Robinson confirming him in his new post.
The three hour service also contained room for dissent. Assistant Bishop David Bena of Albany, N.Y., spoke for 38 opposing bishops in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. Reading from a statement, Bena said Robinson's " 'chosen lifestyle' is incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church."
The only "chosen lifestyle" is the one choice to be open and honest about how you are going to live, NOT about your sexual prefence or sexual proclivities. I make this point all of the time, but ignorant people decide to make up their own set of rules to go by and do not acknowledge the evidentiary support of science and base level common sense. Why on earth would anyone actively choose to be homosexual in light of the intolerant attitudes of heterosexism and fundamentalist fascism? If homosexuals were that nihilistic and devoid of a need for respect, understanding, and tolerance then I could possibly understand, but that is not the real world we live in, now is it? The problem is throwing in relogion to this already incendiary mix and everything is fucked from the word go.
He said his group and many other bishops in the worldwide Anglican Communion will not recognize Robinson as a fellow bishop.
The Rev. Earl Fox of the Diocese of Pittsburgh then stood and delivered a description of gay sex so graphic that many in the congregation of 4,000 were visibly uncomfortable. Griswold finally told him to "get to the point." Fox said the "health consequences" of homosexuality were "devastating". He then stormed from the building.
Um... ::feels head implode:: Is this same practice for the alleged sins of the heterosexual escapades in lust done during a consecration? Oh, but religion is not political - I remember now... Did I mention that this guy probably lost a lot of his own parishoners in the process of bringing something that wholly inappropriate in God's house? On second thought, that's actually a good thing.
Outside, more than 200 representatives of LGBT groups and gay Episcopalians rallied in support of Robinson's elevation. But, a short distance away, separated by police on horseback were a handful of demonstrators from the Fred Phelps clan, carrying "God Hates Fags" placards.
"I have a problem with any church calling a homosexual its leader when he is an unrepentant homosexual," said Joshua Phelps-Roper.
Looking for validity in the Phelps cult is rather like fucking for chastity or looking for IQ points in someone who drives a tricked out four banger with a 3 foot spoiler on the trunk. NOT unlike a coffee can exhaust on a Daewoo. ::coughcoughLAMEcough::
Conservative Episcopalians opposed to gays in the Church held a prayer service in a nearby church. The service was organized by the American Anglican Council, the largest and most outspoken of the traditionalist elements in the faith.
The AAC released a statement calling Robinson's elevation "a grievous day in the history of our church."
"Heresy has been held up as holy," the council said. "Blasphemy has been redefined as blessing.
"The arrogance of the leaders of the Diocese of New Hampshire and the Episcopal Church is nothing less than stunning."
The council said it would "work tirelessly to ensure that mainstream Anglicans in America have a safe place to call home. We seek a home free from harassment and persecution where the gospel can again be proclaimed unhindered."
In London, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams - spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican communion - issued a statement Sunday night saying that the divisions caused by Robinson's elevation "are a matter of deep regret."
Anglican church leaders in Nigeria condemned the consecration. With more than 17 million worshippers, the Nigerian Church is the largest community in the Anglican Communion, and its leaders have been at the forefront of opposition to Gene Robinson’s appointment as bishop.
“The Nigerian Church has made it very clear that it is not in support of the consecration. This is wrong, it’s not acceptable,” said Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon.
Robinson reached out to disgruntled Church conservatives during his address. "They must know if they must leave, they will always be welcomed back," Robinson said to cheers.
And, the man Robinson is replacing, retiring bishop Douglas Theuner said he was overjoyed at Robinson's election.
"[Robinson] will stand as a symbol of the unity of the church in a way none of the rest of us can" because he will "bring into our fellowship an entire group of Christians hitherto unacknowledged in the church."
This last statement is the entire point for me. If you choose to believe in God and "the word", fine - I support that as your personal choice and it's perfectly fine to believe/live whatever/however you want so long as you aren't hurting others in the process. There is a golden opportunity (if not a fuschia one, after all he IS gay) ::thwaps self for the cheap shot:: for these alleged people of God to come together in such a way that Jesus himself would approve of wholeheartedly, but no - there is too much political backlash going on and the powers that be in the church have again conveniently lost sight of the importance they profess in their love of Lord and Savior, effectively making a mockery of it altogether. It's just too bad for their parishoners that they pick the wrong battles.
Consecrated & Condemned
by Michael J. Meade
365Gay.com Newscenter
Boston Bureau
Posted: November 3, 2003 12:01 a.m. ET
judebennett's commentary in red
(Durham, New Hampshire) Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man to be made a bishop in the worldwide Anglican faith was installed in a glittering ceremony as mounted police separated noisy protestors outside.
People going into the service had to pass through metal detectors and have their bags checked by sniffer dogs.
In a service that combined pageantry and ritual Robinson was overcome with emotion several times. The service was conducted by the head of the Episcopal Church, presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. The highlight came as some 45 bishops laid hands on Robinson confirming him in his new post.
The three hour service also contained room for dissent. Assistant Bishop David Bena of Albany, N.Y., spoke for 38 opposing bishops in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. Reading from a statement, Bena said Robinson's " 'chosen lifestyle' is incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church."
The only "chosen lifestyle" is the one choice to be open and honest about how you are going to live, NOT about your sexual prefence or sexual proclivities. I make this point all of the time, but ignorant people decide to make up their own set of rules to go by and do not acknowledge the evidentiary support of science and base level common sense. Why on earth would anyone actively choose to be homosexual in light of the intolerant attitudes of heterosexism and fundamentalist fascism? If homosexuals were that nihilistic and devoid of a need for respect, understanding, and tolerance then I could possibly understand, but that is not the real world we live in, now is it? The problem is throwing in relogion to this already incendiary mix and everything is fucked from the word go.
He said his group and many other bishops in the worldwide Anglican Communion will not recognize Robinson as a fellow bishop.
The Rev. Earl Fox of the Diocese of Pittsburgh then stood and delivered a description of gay sex so graphic that many in the congregation of 4,000 were visibly uncomfortable. Griswold finally told him to "get to the point." Fox said the "health consequences" of homosexuality were "devastating". He then stormed from the building.
Um... ::feels head implode:: Is this same practice for the alleged sins of the heterosexual escapades in lust done during a consecration? Oh, but religion is not political - I remember now... Did I mention that this guy probably lost a lot of his own parishoners in the process of bringing something that wholly inappropriate in God's house? On second thought, that's actually a good thing.
Outside, more than 200 representatives of LGBT groups and gay Episcopalians rallied in support of Robinson's elevation. But, a short distance away, separated by police on horseback were a handful of demonstrators from the Fred Phelps clan, carrying "God Hates Fags" placards.
"I have a problem with any church calling a homosexual its leader when he is an unrepentant homosexual," said Joshua Phelps-Roper.
Looking for validity in the Phelps cult is rather like fucking for chastity or looking for IQ points in someone who drives a tricked out four banger with a 3 foot spoiler on the trunk. NOT unlike a coffee can exhaust on a Daewoo. ::coughcoughLAMEcough::
Conservative Episcopalians opposed to gays in the Church held a prayer service in a nearby church. The service was organized by the American Anglican Council, the largest and most outspoken of the traditionalist elements in the faith.
The AAC released a statement calling Robinson's elevation "a grievous day in the history of our church."
"Heresy has been held up as holy," the council said. "Blasphemy has been redefined as blessing.
"The arrogance of the leaders of the Diocese of New Hampshire and the Episcopal Church is nothing less than stunning."
The council said it would "work tirelessly to ensure that mainstream Anglicans in America have a safe place to call home. We seek a home free from harassment and persecution where the gospel can again be proclaimed unhindered."
In London, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams - spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican communion - issued a statement Sunday night saying that the divisions caused by Robinson's elevation "are a matter of deep regret."
Anglican church leaders in Nigeria condemned the consecration. With more than 17 million worshippers, the Nigerian Church is the largest community in the Anglican Communion, and its leaders have been at the forefront of opposition to Gene Robinson’s appointment as bishop.
“The Nigerian Church has made it very clear that it is not in support of the consecration. This is wrong, it’s not acceptable,” said Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon.
Robinson reached out to disgruntled Church conservatives during his address. "They must know if they must leave, they will always be welcomed back," Robinson said to cheers.
And, the man Robinson is replacing, retiring bishop Douglas Theuner said he was overjoyed at Robinson's election.
"[Robinson] will stand as a symbol of the unity of the church in a way none of the rest of us can" because he will "bring into our fellowship an entire group of Christians hitherto unacknowledged in the church."
This last statement is the entire point for me. If you choose to believe in God and "the word", fine - I support that as your personal choice and it's perfectly fine to believe/live whatever/however you want so long as you aren't hurting others in the process. There is a golden opportunity (if not a fuschia one, after all he IS gay) ::thwaps self for the cheap shot:: for these alleged people of God to come together in such a way that Jesus himself would approve of wholeheartedly, but no - there is too much political backlash going on and the powers that be in the church have again conveniently lost sight of the importance they profess in their love of Lord and Savior, effectively making a mockery of it altogether. It's just too bad for their parishoners that they pick the wrong battles.