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November 9, 2005 [LINK]

Promoting religious schism

Not content with sowing bitter divisiveness within the Anglican Communion over his status as an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson is now looking upon new horizons, inviting Roman Catholics who question the doctrines regarding homosexuality espoused by the new Pope Benedict to join the Episcopal Church. In an interview in London, he said, "... Pope Ratzinger may be the best thing that ever happened to the Episcopal Church." Robinson may bear a grudge over a friendly message then-Cardinal Ratzinger sent to opponents of the former's elevation to bishop in 2003. See Washington Post. Referring to the Pontiff by his family name could be construed as a lack of respect, and the taunting attitude strikes me as unseemly and even belligerent. It is not a good sign when one denomination with falling membership preys upon another, and may be a symptom of the morbidity of mainline, nonevangelical churches. The following passage from St. Paul's First Epistle to Timothy, Chapter 3, which is part of the service for the consecration of a bishop (in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer), is of particular relevance to Robinson, who left his family to live with another man:

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop*, he desireth good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

* "Bishop" is also translated as "overseer," which is functionally equivalent. If those who hold higher office, whether in religious organizations or in government, are not held to a higher standard of morality, then society at large tends to decay -- "slouching toward Gomorrah," as Robert Bork put it.

Posted (or last updated or commented upon): 09 Nov 2005, 10: 24 PM

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