Religion, Marriage, and the Economy An Interview with Bishop Gene Robinson

[cbayer]

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/06/robinson_religion.html

By Sally Steenland | June 20, 2012




Sally Steenland speaks with CAP Senior Fellow Bishop Gene Robinson about religious liberty, contraception, marriage equality, economic inequality, and more. Robinson is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire and the subject of a documentary film, “Love Free or Die,” that premiered at Sundance and has been playing around the country. He is also the author of an upcoming book, God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage, published by Knopf and coming out September 18. You can view a video of the religious liberty event here.

Sally Steenland: At our religious liberty event, where you were a panelist, we talked about contraception and marriage equality, as well as other issues related to religious liberty that aren’t in the headlines. What was your takeaway from the event?

Gene Robinson: The most interesting thing for me is that there seemed to be a consensus among panelists that religious liberty is not at risk in this country. One is left to conclude that it’s being used as a wedge issue, a solution to something that isn’t a problem. And one has to wonder, what’s behind it?

One of the things I was struck by—and I didn’t bring it up because I’m not absolutely sure of it—but the polling research that Robby Jones presented broke out responses in various ways. White, faithful people seemed to be in a more conservative place than the rest. You could say that’s mostly evangelicals, but there are a lot of evangelicals of color, and I couldn’t help but wonder how it relates to the fact that we have an African American president. There have been some of us who have been speculating for a long time that much of the opposition to the policies of the current administrations may be code for racism. You can’t get people to admit to racism in any kind of a poll, but I was struck by what a conservative place some white voters are in. I don’t know what that means or where it’s going, but it did come to my mind.


more at link

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. He has preached at my church

Wonderful preacher, and no, he didn't preach about his personal situation.

[cbayer]

2. He is truly wonderful and very brave.

The stories of what he has endured as a bishop are horrifying.

I've never heard him preach, but would like to.