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CNN Sunday Morning
Episcopal Church to Vote on Gay Bishop
Aired August 03, 2003 - 07:00 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: Let's get to our lead story on this Sunday morning. The Episcopal church moving a step closer to a historic vote today that could lead to the church having its first openly gay bishop.
More now from our Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let us remember that we're talking about a bishop who -- a bishop elect who's being given a special order of business...
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The house of deputies getting ready to vote Sunday afternoon on whether to make one of its members a bishop. It's one more step that could bring Reverend Gene Robinson, already approved by his new Hampshire diocese, closer to becoming the first openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican communion.
DAVID ELLIOTT, REV., MISSISSIPPI: Right now, partially I'm undecided. One minute I'm saying yes, one minute I'm saying no.
CANDIOTTI: Reverend David Elliott is still on the fence. And his Mississippi delegation will meet privately with Robinson before the vote.
This priest from Alaska is more sure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm leaning towards confirmation.
CANDIOTTI: Reverend Bryan Thom will vote in favor, though he says some in his Idaho parish might be somewhat uncomfortable with Robinson's sexuality.
BRIAN THOM, REV.: But they also understand that the diocese of New Hampshire probably knows what they're doing best for themselves.
CANDIOTTI: Others dismissed talk the church will split if Robinson is approved.
THOMAS WOODWARD, REV., CALIFORNIA: I think we've had a vocation to be ahead. If you wait for everybody, you'll never get anywhere.
CANDIOTTI: Some who remain opposed contend Robinson's long term relationship with another man is what's at issue. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not positive that the Episcopal church has yet given the ordination, a person's engaged in sexual relations outside the bonds of holy matrimony approval.
CANDIOTTI: Reverend Robinson maintains the church is ready to accept him as he is.
GENE ROBINSON, REV., CANDIDATE FOR BISHOP: But God wants gay and lesbian people to know that He is including them in his embrace as children of God. And so, I think this is almost unstoppable.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): On Sunday, both religious and lay deputies will be meeting in this room to debate the issue one last time, before casting their ballots using this electronic voting machine.
If Reverend Gene Robinson clears that hurdle, he'll have one more body to convince, the House of Bishops meeting Monday. If he does, it will make history.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Minneapolis
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get to our lead story on this Sunday morning. The Episcopal church moving a step closer to a historic vote today that could lead to the church having its first openly gay bishop.
More now from our Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let us remember that we're talking about a bishop who -- a bishop elect who's being given a special order of business...
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The house of deputies getting ready to vote Sunday afternoon on whether to make one of its members a bishop. It's one more step that could bring Reverend Gene Robinson, already approved by his new Hampshire diocese, closer to becoming the first openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican communion.
DAVID ELLIOTT, REV., MISSISSIPPI: Right now, partially I'm undecided. One minute I'm saying yes, one minute I'm saying no.
CANDIOTTI: Reverend David Elliott is still on the fence. And his Mississippi delegation will meet privately with Robinson before the vote.
This priest from Alaska is more sure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm leaning towards confirmation.
CANDIOTTI: Reverend Bryan Thom will vote in favor, though he says some in his Idaho parish might be somewhat uncomfortable with Robinson's sexuality.
BRIAN THOM, REV.: But they also understand that the diocese of New Hampshire probably knows what they're doing best for themselves.
CANDIOTTI: Others dismissed talk the church will split if Robinson is approved.
THOMAS WOODWARD, REV., CALIFORNIA: I think we've had a vocation to be ahead. If you wait for everybody, you'll never get anywhere.
CANDIOTTI: Some who remain opposed contend Robinson's long term relationship with another man is what's at issue. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not positive that the Episcopal church has yet given the ordination, a person's engaged in sexual relations outside the bonds of holy matrimony approval.
CANDIOTTI: Reverend Robinson maintains the church is ready to accept him as he is.
GENE ROBINSON, REV., CANDIDATE FOR BISHOP: But God wants gay and lesbian people to know that He is including them in his embrace as children of God. And so, I think this is almost unstoppable.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): On Sunday, both religious and lay deputies will be meeting in this room to debate the issue one last time, before casting their ballots using this electronic voting machine.
If Reverend Gene Robinson clears that hurdle, he'll have one more body to convince, the House of Bishops meeting Monday. If he does, it will make history.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Minneapolis
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
