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CNN Live Saturday
Interview With Gay Episcopalian Priest
Aired August 02, 2003 - 16:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Episcopalians are agonizing over an issue that could split their church in America and estrange them from the world wide Anglican community. In Minneapolis, a final vote may come Monday on making an openly-gay priest a bishop. The Reverend Gene Robinson is defending his candidacy against conservatives who say they're very ability to spread christianity throughout the world is at stake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REVERAND GENE ROBINSON, EPISCOPAL PRIEST: Of course, they're right to voice their opinion. One of the great gifts of the Anglican church around the world and the Episcopal church here in the United States is that within the context of our faith in Jesus Christ, we disagree about all kinds of things.
WHITFIELD: What do you think about when you hear them say, you do not belong as a bishop?
ROBINSON: I've heard a lot of ugly things said about me, and people like me, my whole life. And God has put up this wonderful protective barrier around me, because I know that god loves me beyond my wildest imagining. Loves me as the gay man that I was created to be, and, you know in comparison, to that kind of assurance from God, ugly comments from around the world or next door just don't mean all that much.
WHITFIELD: So when you hear some opponents say your elevation to bishop would simply shatter this church, what do you think?
ROBINSON: I think this church is God's and not ours to win or lose. And I think God will take very good care of this church. Don't expect anything to come crumbling down.
WHITFIELD: What do you make of being, in effect, the main headline-grabber, whether you like it or not, of this convention?
ROBINSON: I'm trying my very best to make God the headliner of this convention. I am just a person. And I'm trying to do what Jesus always did, which was when everybody pointed to him, he pointed to God. I'm trying that in every way I know because I'm only able to be sitting where I am, knowing that I'm loved by God because of my faith, because God has spoken to me of that love that he has, like the prodigal son coming home to the father who came running out to embrace him before he could even say I'm sorry. That's the God that I know. And that's the God I want to point out and to say, when you've got a God like that you don't have to be fearful about including anyone. ROBINSON: To what do you compare this controversy to the order nation of women?
WHITFIELD: I think there are very many similarities, both the predictions that there would be cissim (ph) over the final decision and over the richness and wonderful contributions that the ordination of women has added to the Episcopal church.
I believe that the church, before very long, will understand what an incredible richness of spirit and commitment gay and lesbian folk bring to this church. We're already here. We're in every church in America. It's only are we going to make the church a safe enough place to talk about that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Later next week, the episcopal convention will decide whether to bless same-sex marriages.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 2, 2003 - 16:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Episcopalians are agonizing over an issue that could split their church in America and estrange them from the world wide Anglican community. In Minneapolis, a final vote may come Monday on making an openly-gay priest a bishop. The Reverend Gene Robinson is defending his candidacy against conservatives who say they're very ability to spread christianity throughout the world is at stake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REVERAND GENE ROBINSON, EPISCOPAL PRIEST: Of course, they're right to voice their opinion. One of the great gifts of the Anglican church around the world and the Episcopal church here in the United States is that within the context of our faith in Jesus Christ, we disagree about all kinds of things.
WHITFIELD: What do you think about when you hear them say, you do not belong as a bishop?
ROBINSON: I've heard a lot of ugly things said about me, and people like me, my whole life. And God has put up this wonderful protective barrier around me, because I know that god loves me beyond my wildest imagining. Loves me as the gay man that I was created to be, and, you know in comparison, to that kind of assurance from God, ugly comments from around the world or next door just don't mean all that much.
WHITFIELD: So when you hear some opponents say your elevation to bishop would simply shatter this church, what do you think?
ROBINSON: I think this church is God's and not ours to win or lose. And I think God will take very good care of this church. Don't expect anything to come crumbling down.
WHITFIELD: What do you make of being, in effect, the main headline-grabber, whether you like it or not, of this convention?
ROBINSON: I'm trying my very best to make God the headliner of this convention. I am just a person. And I'm trying to do what Jesus always did, which was when everybody pointed to him, he pointed to God. I'm trying that in every way I know because I'm only able to be sitting where I am, knowing that I'm loved by God because of my faith, because God has spoken to me of that love that he has, like the prodigal son coming home to the father who came running out to embrace him before he could even say I'm sorry. That's the God that I know. And that's the God I want to point out and to say, when you've got a God like that you don't have to be fearful about including anyone. ROBINSON: To what do you compare this controversy to the order nation of women?
WHITFIELD: I think there are very many similarities, both the predictions that there would be cissim (ph) over the final decision and over the richness and wonderful contributions that the ordination of women has added to the Episcopal church.
I believe that the church, before very long, will understand what an incredible richness of spirit and commitment gay and lesbian folk bring to this church. We're already here. We're in every church in America. It's only are we going to make the church a safe enough place to talk about that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Later next week, the episcopal convention will decide whether to bless same-sex marriages.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
