Breakpoint Allan Dobras
Episcopalians Defend the Consecration of a “Gay” Bishop
The Episcopal Church has been flirting with a disastrous schism for the last thirty-five years, and now a formal breakup seems inevitable following an unapologetic June 17–22, 2005, appearance before the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) in Nottingham, England. The purpose of the meeting was to hear the church’s defense of its consecration of “gay” Bishop V. Gene Robinson.
Over the years, the denomination continued to hang together as it blundered through several divisive issues while causing its rolls to plummet by about 1.3 million congregants, or nearly 40 percent of its membership. Remarkably, the church had managed to survive clergymen like Bishop John S. Spong, who institutionalized heretical teachings in the denomination, the failed heresy trial of Rt. Reverend Walter Righter, who opened the church to the ordination of homosexual deacons, and the church’s persistent embroilment in leftist politics.
Now, ramifications from the consecration of Bishop V. Gene Robinson are sending shockwaves through the Anglican community, and the denomination is on the brink of imploding. The June 2003 election of Rt. Reverend Robinson to the office of bishop was the final straw for the traditionalist-minded American Anglican Council (AAC) and a number of conservative prelates—primarily from Africa—who put pressure on the Worldwide Anglican Communion to respond to what they thought to be contrary to church doctrine.
Remember James Pike?
Bishop James Pike got alot of press in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Among his claims to fame was his denial of the doctrine of the Trinity. This outright denial of Christian doctrine did not lead to his expulsion from E”C”USA. Interestingly enough, he died in Israel. He took a trip in the desert not far from the Red Sea and lost his bearings. His body was found at the foot of a seventy-foot cliff. He literally died trying to find his way back to Jerusalem (food for thought there).
There is a rumor floating around that the RCC is considering an outright ban on even celibate homosexual clergy. If it does so, it would essentially be setting aside gays as a distinct category of human being … a pretty radical move. The better question is whether one will be able to fulfill their vows. Bishop Robinson may not be the best example of that, having left his wife of some years. This is of course not just a homosexual problem. There have evidently been so many priests having affairs with female parishioners that they’ve set up a support group in Scotland for the women.
I’m hoping that Benedict takes the high (and just) road … not a reactionary one (meaning continue to ordain those who they can expect to maintain their vows of celibacy, whether heterosexual or homosexual).
JamesK Posting inflammatory rumors?
Note 3: “A worldwide directive to Catholic seminaries banning the ordination of gay men is in the pipeline, Vatican sources have confirmed.
Based on the Catholic Church’s teaching that homosexuality is “objectively disordered”, the directive is expected to rule that candidates of homosexual orientation be denied admission to the seminary and be denied ordination as priests, irrespective of their celibate status.” (Link here)
Additional quote from the former spokesperson of JPII:
“People with these inclinations just cannot be ordained,” Joaquin Navarro-Valls told the New York Times in an interview from Rome. “That does not imply a final judgment on people with homosexuality. But you cannot be in this field.”
If you don’t want people to read a post labeled “rumor” as rumor then don’t use the word to describe your own post.