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American Morning
Gay Bishop Decision
Aired August 04, 2003 - 08:23 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The Episcopal Church could have its first openly gay bishop today. Church leaders meeting in Minneapolis will vote to decide if the Reverend Gene Robinson should join the House of Bishops. It's a decision that could divide the Episcopal Church.
Susan Candiotti is live now in Minneapolis this morning.
Hello to you -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
As a priest, Reverend Gene Robinson says he takes responsibility for his vows, for his ministry to his parish and he would take responsibility for answering his call from God, he says, to become a bishop. But, of course, he is getting closer to that goal of becoming a bishop this day if it is approved by the 100 or so members of the House of Bishops. The question is will they follow the lead from the House of Deputies who voted for him on Sunday, a vote made up and was taken by clergy and laypeople.
Now Robinson says he is humbled by their vote of confidence, but he has critics, and he knows it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. GENE ROBINSON, EPISCOPAL PRIEST: Not being fully included in the church for so long has brought a lot of us pain. And so it's a kind of a bittersweet moment, because while I rejoice with my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and all those who are working for a full inclusion in this wonderful Episcopal Church of ours, we are also very aware that this is a troubling decision for many in our church.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. KENDALL HARMON, AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL: A bishop who is to be a symbol of unity is going to become a symbol of disunity and a source of deep pain for millions of Anglicans worldwide, the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Opponents predict that some people will break away from the church if Robinson is elevated to bishop and that U.S. Episcopalians will be shunned, if that happens, by the worldwide Anglican community. The deciding votes will be cast this day. And if he loses, Reverend Robinson says he will not pursue the matter further. We'll have to learn what happens later this day -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Susan, just wondering, how likely is it that the House of Bishops could disagree with the vote that was already taken in the House of Deputies?
CANDIOTTI: It's entirely possible, although some people here predict that they will follow the lead from the House of Deputies, which is made up of clergy and laypeople. Robinson himself says he hopes that the House of Bishops will feel emboldened by Sunday's vote and decide to elevate him to bishop as well.
COLLINS: All right. Susan Candiotti live from Minneapolis this morning. 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 August 4, 2003 - 08:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The Episcopal Church could have its first openly gay bishop today. Church leaders meeting in Minneapolis will vote to decide if the Reverend Gene Robinson should join the House of Bishops. It's a decision that could divide the Episcopal Church.
Susan Candiotti is live now in Minneapolis this morning.
Hello to you -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
As a priest, Reverend Gene Robinson says he takes responsibility for his vows, for his ministry to his parish and he would take responsibility for answering his call from God, he says, to become a bishop. But, of course, he is getting closer to that goal of becoming a bishop this day if it is approved by the 100 or so members of the House of Bishops. The question is will they follow the lead from the House of Deputies who voted for him on Sunday, a vote made up and was taken by clergy and laypeople.
Now Robinson says he is humbled by their vote of confidence, but he has critics, and he knows it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. GENE ROBINSON, EPISCOPAL PRIEST: Not being fully included in the church for so long has brought a lot of us pain. And so it's a kind of a bittersweet moment, because while I rejoice with my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and all those who are working for a full inclusion in this wonderful Episcopal Church of ours, we are also very aware that this is a troubling decision for many in our church.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. KENDALL HARMON, AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL: A bishop who is to be a symbol of unity is going to become a symbol of disunity and a source of deep pain for millions of Anglicans worldwide, the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Opponents predict that some people will break away from the church if Robinson is elevated to bishop and that U.S. Episcopalians will be shunned, if that happens, by the worldwide Anglican community. The deciding votes will be cast this day. And if he loses, Reverend Robinson says he will not pursue the matter further. We'll have to learn what happens later this day -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Susan, just wondering, how likely is it that the House of Bishops could disagree with the vote that was already taken in the House of Deputies?
CANDIOTTI: It's entirely possible, although some people here predict that they will follow the lead from the House of Deputies, which is made up of clergy and laypeople. Robinson himself says he hopes that the House of Bishops will feel emboldened by Sunday's vote and decide to elevate him to bishop as well.
COLLINS: All right. Susan Candiotti live from Minneapolis this morning. 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
