Gay Christians Must Expect Suffering, Get Tough, says Gay Bishop
Thursday 3rd July 2008
Gay Anglican Bishop Gene Robinson has told gay Christians that wish to change the Church to “toughen up”
Robinson spoke to a congregation in Sacramento, California at the Trinity Episcopal (Anglican) Cathedral. He warned that the road towards making the Church more accepting would not be an easy one.
Robinson said most people want to change the world without “paying the price for it”, but that’s impossible. Anyone who wants to change the world must “expect suffering”.
Robinson said: "Most of what I've learned about [the LGBT] movement I've learned from the African-American civil rights movement in this country.
"And those people went out and paid their dues for civil rights, knowing there's going to be dogs and fire hoses and tear gas and maybe death.
"And so you and I, especially if you are in the LGBT community, you and I need to toughen up. And we need to expect suffering."
Robinson may already be experiencing that suffering he expects. Last week around half the world’s Anglicans effectively formed a second church, a split at least partially inspired by his ordination as Bishop.
The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Foca) rejects outright any acceptance of homosexuality, and ordained homosexuals are particularly taboo. The group has already commented on Robinson’s ordination, blaming it on a “false gospel” taught by the main church.
They said: "In 2003 this false gospel led to the consecration of a bishop living in a homosexual relationship.”
The group has denied the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, forming their own breakaway conference. Recently they were in London attempting to recruit clergy to the cause. That event was attended by gay rights activist Peter Tatchell and two other LGBT rights protestors, who were quickly thrown out of the event.
Tatchell claims the group was assaulted while being removed from the conference by the holy men. He criticized the group for its homophobia. The Archbishop of Canterbury joined him in criticism, although his concerns were more Church related. He accused them of lacking authority, while a staff member referred to them as a “Protestant sect”.
Robinson spoke to a congregation in Sacramento, California at the Trinity Episcopal (Anglican) Cathedral. He warned that the road towards making the Church more accepting would not be an easy one.
Robinson said most people want to change the world without “paying the price for it”, but that’s impossible. Anyone who wants to change the world must “expect suffering”.
Robinson said: "Most of what I've learned about [the LGBT] movement I've learned from the African-American civil rights movement in this country.
"And those people went out and paid their dues for civil rights, knowing there's going to be dogs and fire hoses and tear gas and maybe death.
"And so you and I, especially if you are in the LGBT community, you and I need to toughen up. And we need to expect suffering."
Robinson may already be experiencing that suffering he expects. Last week around half the world’s Anglicans effectively formed a second church, a split at least partially inspired by his ordination as Bishop.
The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Foca) rejects outright any acceptance of homosexuality, and ordained homosexuals are particularly taboo. The group has already commented on Robinson’s ordination, blaming it on a “false gospel” taught by the main church.
They said: "In 2003 this false gospel led to the consecration of a bishop living in a homosexual relationship.”
The group has denied the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, forming their own breakaway conference. Recently they were in London attempting to recruit clergy to the cause. That event was attended by gay rights activist Peter Tatchell and two other LGBT rights protestors, who were quickly thrown out of the event.
Tatchell claims the group was assaulted while being removed from the conference by the holy men. He criticized the group for its homophobia. The Archbishop of Canterbury joined him in criticism, although his concerns were more Church related. He accused them of lacking authority, while a staff member referred to them as a “Protestant sect”.
