Appointment of Gay bishop hits problems
The appointment of an openly gay bishop in America has hit difficulties as US Anglican Church leaders have opened an inquiry into allegations against Canon Gene Robinson.
A vote to confirm him as Bishop of New Hampshire was postponed just two hours before it was due to take place last night.
The allegations, first made on an unofficial website yesterday, accuse the canon of touching another man inappropriately, and of being associated with a group whose website is alleged to link to pornographic sites.
Friends of Canon Robinson have dismissed the allegations as absurd and accused conservatives of trying to prevent his appointment going through by any means possible.
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold said in a statement that ‘a thorough investigation’ would be undertaken before bishops were asked to vote on the appointment.
The current Bishop of New Hampshire, Douglas Theuner, said the diocese had continued confidence in Gene Robinson and full confidence in the investigation.
A similar attempt to appoint a gay man as the Bishop of Reading failed in England last month when Dr John was forced to stand down for the position of Bishop of Reading after threats he would ‘damage the unity of the church’.
