New Homosexual Bishop Accepts Award from Porn Website

by Jim Brown
February 23, 2004

(AgapePress) - A conservative Episcopal theologian is denouncing his denomination's first open homosexual bishop for accepting an award from a pornographic website.

A pornographic website called "PlanetOut" recently named New Hampshire Bishop Vicki Gene Robinson "Person of the Year for 2003" for his "unprecedented achievement and its impact on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans-gender community." Robinson said receiving the award was "quite humbling."

Dr. Kendall Harmon with the American Anglican Council says he is "disappointed" that Robinson would accept the award at a time in the culture when children are being sent confusing messages about the path to sexual wholeness.

"One of the things that's happening is the whole concept of what a marriage is is becoming part of the confusion -- and so the line between what God is calling us to do and what we ourselves are deceived into thinking is good for us is getting really, really blurry."

The canon theologian for the Diocese of South Carolina says Robinson is also blurring the line between the sacred and the profane.

"Unfortunately those blurred lines are further blurred by this kind of thing, so I myself will simply say that I wish Gene Robinson would have turned down this award -- and the fact that he accepts it doesn't help anything. It's not something that sends the right message to our children, and it's not something that builds a promising world for our future."

Episcopal conservative David Virtue says "no honorable, believing Episcopalian can tolerate" Robinson's "mockery of human sexuality."

PlanetOut describes itself as "the leading gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans-gender online community." The Advocate, the nation's leading homosexual magazine, also named Robinson its "Person of the Year."