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CNN Live Saturday
Openly Gay Bishop Threating to Split Episcopal Church
Aired November 01, 2003 - 14:26 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.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN ANCHOR: The Episcopal Church consecrates its first openly gay bishop tomorrow. The elevation of Reverend Gene Robinson is threatening to split the U.S. Church and the wider Anglican communion.
Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, joins us from Manchester, New Hampshire -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Jonathan. Reverend Gene Robinson is spending the day before his controversial consecration at an annual meeting of his diocese here in his home state of New Hampshire. Remember, he was elected here by his own diocese, and then after a contentious debate this summer at a national convention of bishops in Minneapolis, his election was approved.
Now it becomes final tomorrow with his consecration, but there are many who continue to oppose it. Why? Because, they say, it flaunts scripture because he is involved in a serious and committed relationship with another man. And they say that the Church will fall apart because of this.
They are calling his consecration tragic, and are calling for Gene Robinson to, in their words, repent. I asked him about that in a private conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REV. GENE ROBINSON, BISHOP-ELECT, NEW HAMPSHIRE DIOCESE: Strong words and not terribly helpful in the sense that surely these people don't believe that if I were to step aside, that all of this would stop. That we would go back to being the nice, pretty picture that some have supposed us to be in the past.
There are extraordinarily gifted gay and lesbian people in serious positions of leadership throughout our church, and they are going to be nominated and elected as well. So my stepping aside would not stop this one bit.
CANDIOTTI: Well, you -- if there is a split -- and people continue to predict this, because, quite frankly, the majority of the worldwide Anglican community disagrees with this and is opposed to it -- what will happen?
ROBINSON: Well, you know, it's very interesting that a worldwide Anglican communion, the vast majority of it still disagrees with us about the ordination of women. Our women bishops, our women priests would not be recognized around most of the world and would not be allowed to function there as bishops or priests. And yet we've not come apart over that, and I believe that there's no reason for us to come apart over this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Now, Reverend Gene Robinson says that he has received literally thousands of letters and emails from those who continue to oppose his consecration. On the other hand, he said he's received three to four times this many who are in favor of this and telling him to go on.
The fact of the matter is, is that there was a meeting just last month held by the archbishop of Canterbury, who is the leader of the worldwide Anglican communion. And there was an acknowledgement that this might split the Church apart. However, Gene Robinson hopes that is not the case. In fact, he says he hopes it will only become stronger because of it -- Jonathan.
KARL: Do you get a sense from him whether he believes he's going to be able to put this fully behind him? Or will he always be seen as the gay bishop?
CANDIOTTI: Well, he's quite certain that this is not going to -- the controversy won't go away anytime soon. And certainly, that label is sure to follow him for quite some time.
And you heard him make reference to Bishop Barbara Harris, who became the first female bishop. She certainly still has that label, but people, for the most part, have gotten over it. Interestingly, though, as he pointed out, there are still at least two diocese, two parts of the United States that don't acknowledge female bishops, don't recognize them in their own parishes.
And so this is something he realizes that will follow him for quite some time, although he said, look, the Church is going to be changing he hopes over the next 10 years and 10 years after that, as these things do evolve. And so he hopes in the long run that people will forget that label after awhile.
KARL: All right. Well, interesting interview. Thanks for bringing it to us. Thanks, Susan.
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 November 1, 2003 - 14:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN ANCHOR: The Episcopal Church consecrates its first openly gay bishop tomorrow. The elevation of Reverend Gene Robinson is threatening to split the U.S. Church and the wider Anglican communion.
Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, joins us from Manchester, New Hampshire -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Jonathan. Reverend Gene Robinson is spending the day before his controversial consecration at an annual meeting of his diocese here in his home state of New Hampshire. Remember, he was elected here by his own diocese, and then after a contentious debate this summer at a national convention of bishops in Minneapolis, his election was approved.
Now it becomes final tomorrow with his consecration, but there are many who continue to oppose it. Why? Because, they say, it flaunts scripture because he is involved in a serious and committed relationship with another man. And they say that the Church will fall apart because of this.
They are calling his consecration tragic, and are calling for Gene Robinson to, in their words, repent. I asked him about that in a private conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REV. GENE ROBINSON, BISHOP-ELECT, NEW HAMPSHIRE DIOCESE: Strong words and not terribly helpful in the sense that surely these people don't believe that if I were to step aside, that all of this would stop. That we would go back to being the nice, pretty picture that some have supposed us to be in the past.
There are extraordinarily gifted gay and lesbian people in serious positions of leadership throughout our church, and they are going to be nominated and elected as well. So my stepping aside would not stop this one bit.
CANDIOTTI: Well, you -- if there is a split -- and people continue to predict this, because, quite frankly, the majority of the worldwide Anglican community disagrees with this and is opposed to it -- what will happen?
ROBINSON: Well, you know, it's very interesting that a worldwide Anglican communion, the vast majority of it still disagrees with us about the ordination of women. Our women bishops, our women priests would not be recognized around most of the world and would not be allowed to function there as bishops or priests. And yet we've not come apart over that, and I believe that there's no reason for us to come apart over this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Now, Reverend Gene Robinson says that he has received literally thousands of letters and emails from those who continue to oppose his consecration. On the other hand, he said he's received three to four times this many who are in favor of this and telling him to go on.
The fact of the matter is, is that there was a meeting just last month held by the archbishop of Canterbury, who is the leader of the worldwide Anglican communion. And there was an acknowledgement that this might split the Church apart. However, Gene Robinson hopes that is not the case. In fact, he says he hopes it will only become stronger because of it -- Jonathan.
KARL: Do you get a sense from him whether he believes he's going to be able to put this fully behind him? Or will he always be seen as the gay bishop?
CANDIOTTI: Well, he's quite certain that this is not going to -- the controversy won't go away anytime soon. And certainly, that label is sure to follow him for quite some time.
And you heard him make reference to Bishop Barbara Harris, who became the first female bishop. She certainly still has that label, but people, for the most part, have gotten over it. Interestingly, though, as he pointed out, there are still at least two diocese, two parts of the United States that don't acknowledge female bishops, don't recognize them in their own parishes.
And so this is something he realizes that will follow him for quite some time, although he said, look, the Church is going to be changing he hopes over the next 10 years and 10 years after that, as these things do evolve. And so he hopes in the long run that people will forget that label after awhile.
KARL: All right. Well, interesting interview. Thanks for bringing it to us. Thanks, Susan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
