Whether Canon V. Gene Robinson becomes the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop may have come closer to ratification a day after the election was delayed, following a revelation that the Website to his homosexual youth ministry included links to adult material.
The Washington Times reported early August 5 that national Episcopal ratification of Robinson's election as bishop of New Hampshire would be delayed, pending a church investigation into his ties to homosexual youth groups and a sexual harassment charge, as well as the porn links. But CBS reported later the same day that Robinson's election would go forward after he was apparently cleared, especially regarding the sexual harassment charge.
Church leaders meeting in Minneapolis were reported ready to approve Robinson as New Hampshire bishop until an "11th-hour accusation by a Vermont man" who accused Robinson of unwanted advances to him, which the man reportedly called "an alarming weakness of character," the Times said. The newspaper described Robinson as a divorced father of two since 1987 who has had a gay lover for thirteen years.
New Hampshire's Episcopacy elected Robinson bishop in early June, the newspaper said, but a majority of clergy, laity, and bishops must ratify that election at the church's General Convention this week, the Times said. Church conservatives had criticized his election, while Robinson's supporters, according to CBS, were "suspicious" of the timing of the allegations that threatened to delay his ratification.
