Gay Episcopal bishop regrets pain caused

National Catholic Reporter, Nov 5, 2004

An openly gay Episcopal bishop whose consecration was criticized by an Anglican church panel said he is "deeply sorry" for the disarray his election has caused and will adopt a personal moratorium on blessing same-sex unions.

"I do feel regret, a deep and abiding regret, that this has been so painful to so many people in the Anglican communion," said Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, reacting to last month's report by a commission headed by Irish Archbishop Robin Eames (NCR, Oct. 29).

Robinson said he feels it is "God's will" to remain in his post, and noted the panel did not ask for his resignation. He said it was possible to express regret for the pain the decisions have caused and not "regret the decision we made."

Because he is "sensitive" to the fragile unity of the communion, Robinson said he would refer gay couples seeking a blessing to another priest.

But other U.S. and Canadian bishops said they would continue to bless gay unions, a sign that the American churches are not likely to change the behavior that has drawn the wrath of sister Anglican churches around the world.

Angered that the report did not discipline the American church, Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, abruptly left a London meeting of Anglican presiding bishops that included the head of the Episcopal church and returned to Nigeria. He summoned conservative Anglican prelates from Africa to an emergency summit Oct. 26-31 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Robinson said, in his sole criticism of the Eames report, it should have called on church leaders to also "express regret" for the "pain caused to gay and lesbian people in the church."

"It's been going on for centuries, and an expression of regret from those who are party to that pain would have been helpful," he said.

Robinson said the panel's call for a moratorium on gay bishops and same-sex unions would have a "chilling effect" on gay Episcopalians, but predicted it would not last long.

"I do think that this moratorium is an attempt to contain the Holy Spirit in a neat and tidy little box, and we know that the Holy Spirit is that part of God who will not be contained," he said.