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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With James Solheim

Aired November 03, 2003 - 18:41   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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, with Bishop Robinson's elevation in the Episcopal Church the controversy obviously shows no sign of winding down. We want to talk a little bit about that.
James Solheim is with the Episcopal News Service and he joins us now from Durham, New Hampshire, Jim, thank you very much for being with us. I want to get a sense from you of what it was like to be inside today's ceremony.

JAMES SOLHEIM, EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE: Well, it was a magnificent ceremony. As Susan said it's still going on. It seems the Episcopalians can't do anything important in under three hours. I thought Gene Robinson's note, however, that the church has a major issue of reconciliation here that there are faithful, wonderful people of God, he said, who take great pain in what has happened here tonight. The church must reach out to them and try to avoid a split.

LIN: Well, when we hear about a split, I mean when there is this prediction now of a complete breakaway how would it manifest itself?

SOLHEIM: Well, we don't know. We don't know what that means, what kind of split? Our relationships with other Anglicans around the world form a web of relationships. They're personal. They're diocese to diocese relationships as well as between the major churches. What part of that will be pulling apart we'll have to watch and see.

LIN: So how does the church address the opposition going forward then?

SOLHEIM: Excuse me, Carol? Say again.

LIN: Sure. How does the church address the opposition, deal with the opposition going forward?

SOLHEIM: Yes. Well, first of all with great sensitivity and then I think you must get everyone at the table talking with each other because right now they're kind of frozen in their position, either in anger or joy. Somehow we have to bridge that gap and begin the conversation that can lead to healing. We don't want anyone to leave this church.

LIN: If the conservatives who are so heavily opposing his consecration, Bishop Robinson's consecration, what is their worst fear?

SOLHEIM: Their worst fear is that they will be completely marginalized because the majority of the church has voted in favor of Gene Robinson. They want their conscience to be protected in whatever direction the church takes.

LIN: I guess we've got some critics of CNN's coverage here thinking that by doing this interview that we're promoting homosexuality. Obviously that's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to get a deeper understanding of what exactly is going to happen in the Episcopal Church.

What are your predictions here? I mean how do you think the church is going to be able to reconcile this? When you talk about using great sensitivity what does that mean?

SOLHEIM: Well it means consultation at all levels in the church. The presiding bishop has already met with bishops who are totally opposed to this consecration. He's also met with those who find great joy in this consecration. If we can't bridge that gap we could be in trouble.

LIN: And how does Gene Robinson go forward? I mean what is his mission statement first and foremost now?

SOLHEIM: Well, he has his own huge task in front of him being the bishop of New Hampshire. As he has said over and over again he's not the gay bishop of New Hampshire. He's the bishop of New Hampshire. I don't think you'll find him trying to be the poster boy for any cause. He wants to be a good bishop.

LIN: All right, he's got his work cut out for him and really seems like a lovely man indeed. I know our Susan Candiotti got a chance to sit down and talk with him.

SOLHEIM: He's a very well qualified man.

LIN: Thank you very much, Jim Solheim.

SOLHEIM: Okay.

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 3, 2003 - 18:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, with Bishop Robinson's elevation in the Episcopal Church the controversy obviously shows no sign of winding down. We want to talk a little bit about that.
James Solheim is with the Episcopal News Service and he joins us now from Durham, New Hampshire, Jim, thank you very much for being with us. I want to get a sense from you of what it was like to be inside today's ceremony.

JAMES SOLHEIM, EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE: Well, it was a magnificent ceremony. As Susan said it's still going on. It seems the Episcopalians can't do anything important in under three hours. I thought Gene Robinson's note, however, that the church has a major issue of reconciliation here that there are faithful, wonderful people of God, he said, who take great pain in what has happened here tonight. The church must reach out to them and try to avoid a split.

LIN: Well, when we hear about a split, I mean when there is this prediction now of a complete breakaway how would it manifest itself?

SOLHEIM: Well, we don't know. We don't know what that means, what kind of split? Our relationships with other Anglicans around the world form a web of relationships. They're personal. They're diocese to diocese relationships as well as between the major churches. What part of that will be pulling apart we'll have to watch and see.

LIN: So how does the church address the opposition going forward then?

SOLHEIM: Excuse me, Carol? Say again.

LIN: Sure. How does the church address the opposition, deal with the opposition going forward?

SOLHEIM: Yes. Well, first of all with great sensitivity and then I think you must get everyone at the table talking with each other because right now they're kind of frozen in their position, either in anger or joy. Somehow we have to bridge that gap and begin the conversation that can lead to healing. We don't want anyone to leave this church.

LIN: If the conservatives who are so heavily opposing his consecration, Bishop Robinson's consecration, what is their worst fear?

SOLHEIM: Their worst fear is that they will be completely marginalized because the majority of the church has voted in favor of Gene Robinson. They want their conscience to be protected in whatever direction the church takes.

LIN: I guess we've got some critics of CNN's coverage here thinking that by doing this interview that we're promoting homosexuality. Obviously that's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to get a deeper understanding of what exactly is going to happen in the Episcopal Church.

What are your predictions here? I mean how do you think the church is going to be able to reconcile this? When you talk about using great sensitivity what does that mean?

SOLHEIM: Well it means consultation at all levels in the church. The presiding bishop has already met with bishops who are totally opposed to this consecration. He's also met with those who find great joy in this consecration. If we can't bridge that gap we could be in trouble.

LIN: And how does Gene Robinson go forward? I mean what is his mission statement first and foremost now?

SOLHEIM: Well, he has his own huge task in front of him being the bishop of New Hampshire. As he has said over and over again he's not the gay bishop of New Hampshire. He's the bishop of New Hampshire. I don't think you'll find him trying to be the poster boy for any cause. He wants to be a good bishop.

LIN: All right, he's got his work cut out for him and really seems like a lovely man indeed. I know our Susan Candiotti got a chance to sit down and talk with him.

SOLHEIM: He's a very well qualified man.

LIN: Thank you very much, Jim Solheim.

SOLHEIM: Okay.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com