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CNN Sunday Morning
A Church Divided
Aired August 03, 2003 - 08:00 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to go to Minneapolis now. A crucial vote for the Episcopal Church convention talking about whether an openly gay man should be approved as bishop. Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, has the latest on this story right now.
Susan, good morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
The question before this convention in Minneapolis, which meets every three years, is whether Reverend Gene Robinson should be elected bishop. If he is, that would be make him the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, which is part of the worldwide Anglican community. Now, his dioceses back in New Hampshire already approved it. Today the church must ratify that election, and today's vote will bring Gene Robinson one step close if he is approved.
This afternoon, the House Of Deputies, as it's called, somewhat similar to the U.S. House of Representatives in its structure, votes on whether to elevate him to bishop. If he is, the issue moves on.
Now delegates have been debating this matter all week. Some people have already made up their mind. Those in favor say that, while it might cause some people to leave the Episcopal church, that should not intimidate members from making this controversial move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. THOMAS WOODWARD, CALIFORNIA: I think we've had a vocation to be ahead. If you wait for everybody, you never get anywhere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now those who are opposed contend his relationship with another man is much too hard to overlook.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. ELLIS BRUNT, FLORIDA: I'm not positive the Episcopal Church has yet given the ordination of persons engaged in sexual relations outside the bonds of holy matrimony approval.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: As for Robinson, he says he understands why some people might still might feel uncomfortable about this, but he will help them very much to try to overcome that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. GENE ROBINSON, BISHOP OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: I'm not the first gay bishop. There have always been gay bishops throughout the church and every denomination. I'm just the first person talking about it honestly. Second of all, I would say that most people sitting in their pews are just not going to notice much difference on a Sunday morning when they go to church. I hardly intrude into the lives of the people in my own diocese, never mind in a diocese half way across the country or half way around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now the next step after this, if the matter is approved, the issue would go on to what's called the House of Bishops, which will be meeting on Monday. And, again, if this is approved, this would be a historic matter, the first openly gay bishop in the U.S. Episcopal Church -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And Susan, how exactly does the vote work? Does it have to be unanimous at each level?
CANDIOTTI: No it does not. Only a simple majority is required in -- at this particular stage, there are more than 800 deputies, as they're called, voting on the matter. And a simple majority is required in both houses.
KAGAN: Susan, thank you for that.
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 3, 2003 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to go to Minneapolis now. A crucial vote for the Episcopal Church convention talking about whether an openly gay man should be approved as bishop. Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, has the latest on this story right now.
Susan, good morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
The question before this convention in Minneapolis, which meets every three years, is whether Reverend Gene Robinson should be elected bishop. If he is, that would be make him the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, which is part of the worldwide Anglican community. Now, his dioceses back in New Hampshire already approved it. Today the church must ratify that election, and today's vote will bring Gene Robinson one step close if he is approved.
This afternoon, the House Of Deputies, as it's called, somewhat similar to the U.S. House of Representatives in its structure, votes on whether to elevate him to bishop. If he is, the issue moves on.
Now delegates have been debating this matter all week. Some people have already made up their mind. Those in favor say that, while it might cause some people to leave the Episcopal church, that should not intimidate members from making this controversial move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. THOMAS WOODWARD, CALIFORNIA: I think we've had a vocation to be ahead. If you wait for everybody, you never get anywhere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now those who are opposed contend his relationship with another man is much too hard to overlook.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. ELLIS BRUNT, FLORIDA: I'm not positive the Episcopal Church has yet given the ordination of persons engaged in sexual relations outside the bonds of holy matrimony approval.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: As for Robinson, he says he understands why some people might still might feel uncomfortable about this, but he will help them very much to try to overcome that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. GENE ROBINSON, BISHOP OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: I'm not the first gay bishop. There have always been gay bishops throughout the church and every denomination. I'm just the first person talking about it honestly. Second of all, I would say that most people sitting in their pews are just not going to notice much difference on a Sunday morning when they go to church. I hardly intrude into the lives of the people in my own diocese, never mind in a diocese half way across the country or half way around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now the next step after this, if the matter is approved, the issue would go on to what's called the House of Bishops, which will be meeting on Monday. And, again, if this is approved, this would be a historic matter, the first openly gay bishop in the U.S. Episcopal Church -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And Susan, how exactly does the vote work? Does it have to be unanimous at each level?
CANDIOTTI: No it does not. Only a simple majority is required in -- at this particular stage, there are more than 800 deputies, as they're called, voting on the matter. And a simple majority is required in both houses.
KAGAN: Susan, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
