Episcopal Church Ends Probe of Gay Bishop-Elect

[Newsjock]

http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3224122

U.S. Episcopal leaders have ended an investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against the church's first openly gay bishop-elect, and will vote on his ratification later on Tuesday, the church's presiding bishop said.

... The vote will now take place following a report on the investigation at 3:30 p.m. EDT, presiding Bishop Frank Griswold told the assembled bishops.

[Nlighten1]

1. So

I guess the charges were easily dismissed but they gave no indication of their findings.

[Newsjock]

2. Perhaps it'll help

Since the charges were obviously so baseless that they could be fully investigated within 24 hours, the obvious attempt to manipulate the vote could cause some to swing their votes over to the "yes" side.

[larryepke]

3. The claims against Robinson

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20030805/ap_on_re_us/episcopalians_gay_bishop

It appears that those claims against Robinson were attempts at character assassination by those opposing his ordination. I had thought at the time that their timing was quite suspicious.

[Skittles]

4. of course

those people responsible for the character assassination view themselves as "Christians". :puke:

[Kolesar]

8. They tried to pass a "hot tip" to an NPR reporter

Or so it was reported on morning edition today. The reporter did not run with the story. It was not long until some other creep did.

[phillybri]

5. The scumbags that pulled this homophobic stunt should be so ashamed...

What a bunch of assholes...

[GainesT1958]

6. Here's hoping they'll be more determined than ever now...

To do the right thing...and ordain Rev. Robinson as a bishop in my church--the Episcopal Church! :D

I don't care what other parts of the Anglican Communion say about it...many of those same staid folks were against ordination of women...and their objections look positively stupid in hindsight!

Had I been confirmed or married by a gay priest, I would not only not have cared, I would have felt BETTER about how it represents my church's openess to those of all backgrounds and lifestyles. Truly this attitude best reflects the teachings of Jesus, or at least as I understand what He said.

Here's to another facade of theocratic hypocrisy being smashed to smithereens--and if Bishop Griswold feels a little like Martin Luther in doing so, good for him! :7

B-)

[bushisanidiot]

7. Apparently He Touched Some Guy on The Forearm

and shoulder. OH, THE HORROR!

I heard this 'news' when I went home for lunch. Some guy at the convention said that if that was inappropriate behavior then many people at the convention should be charged for doing the same thing.. Everyone was touching others on the shoulder. GASP!

Why is it that if a heterosexual priest, rabbi, etc touches you on the arm while they're talking to you, it's because they sincerely care about you, but if the priest, rabbi, etc. is gay does the same it's because they are trying to recruit you? Damned homophobes..

[David__77]

10. What is "inappropriate"?

Generally, it's anything unwelcomed. But I doubt this guy was getting his ass grabbed or something. I mean, what is he saying? It's too muddled.

[OrdinaryTa]

15. A Forearm is an Erogenous Zone

No, silly, not fore-arm! Fore-skin!!

[David__77]

9. Right-wing assault.

I think that this is probably all--100%--bogus. Fox News sure was trumpeting it, with their hired goon Fred Barnes.

[Barney]

11. Smear tactic didn't work

At least not this time. . . . .but I'm sure it won't be long before the conservatives try it again. Their tactic has been effective in the past in so many ways.

[northernsoul]

12. I hope it backfires in a big way

These people who proclaim that they are the upholders of morality and tradtional values are the one engaged in the most sinful behavior.
They lied, they cheated, they tried to override the will of the people, they tried to destroy a good man's reputation. Are they trying to tell me that somebody loving somebody else who happens to have the same kind of plumbing is a bigger sin that what they've done?

To quote the miserable hypocrites who tried to play this dirty trick: What Whould Jesus Do?

[Liberal Veteran]

13. I wonder what part of "Thou shalt not bear false witness"....

....these smear tactic people didn't get?

[DrBB]

14. The allegations were transparently crap

The big give away was the "pornography" thing--as the yahoo-clipped article put it, the email alleged that he is connected to a group whose Web site can indirectly link users to pornography. The facts? It was the website of a support group for gay youth that he had helped establish but was no longer directly involved with. The link in question was to another, non-pornographic site that had a link to a third site that was pornographic. So yeah, you could get to pornography by following some particular link trail from that site to another etc. But if that counts as providing pornography I'm a Bush supporter.

And as the other posts have said, the accusation of "inappropriate touching" was actually about as benign as you can imagine--the accuser was reduced to saying something to the effect that Robinson's touch "didn't respect boundaries" or something equally ludicrous.

My wife, who was attending the convention till yesterday, said that it was plain to everyone that this was a transparent delaying tactic. And here's something not widely reported--the fact that there was an investigation did NOT signify anything about the credibility of the allegations: the bylaws require an investigation for any such allegation, however transparent or ill-founded.

[Merlin]

16. Thanks for this on-the-scene report, DrBB.

sure helps getting the straight stuff without filtration through an often mendacious or ill-informed news media.