Pat Robertson, televangelist and gay hater will not shed a tear if the Episcopal Church folds. Not that anyone is expecting the church to fold, but on Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club he said the following.
“They have lost their way. They were taken over by this controversy having to do with same-sex marriage and the ordination of homosexual bishops. Once they got into that morass and lost their way from scriptural teaching, they didn't have much denomination left.
“There is a very vibrant denomination coming along, it is called the American Anglican Church, and thousands of people are moving toward it. It's amazing that their presiding bishop is from Rwanda. But nevertheless, they are filled with the flame of the Holy Spirit and we congratulate them.
“And there will be no tears in my life if the Episcopal Church of America just quietly goes out of business.”
I hope the American Anglican Church does not consider Pat Robertson's endorsement a feather in their cap.
Robertson, known to be homophobic and often speaking irrationally, stated this on the day after Maine legalized same sex marriage.
“How can we rule that polygamy is illegal when you say that homosexual marriage is legal. … And what about bestiality and ultimately what about child molestation and pedophilia? … You mark my words, this is just the beginning in a long downward slide in relation to all the things that we consider to be abhorrent.”
As for the hate crimes legislation moving toward reality in congress he offered this.
“You got somebody, he's really weird, and his sexual orientation is that he likes to have sex with ducks. Is he protected under hate crime? Is he protected if he likes to have sex with little boys?”
Ducks? Irrational, hateful, yes. With love and Christ-like compassion, hardly.
Here is what Bishop Gene Robinson had to say during the convention, with quite a different tone. (From Religious Intelligence)
"Speaking to supporters at the Convention on the morning of Dr Williams’ address, the Bishop of New Hampshire said there would be no turning back. Bishop Gene Robinson said he knew that “there are a lot of Episcopalians who say they are embarrassed when people say you are the ‘gay’ church.” To this, Episcopalians should say, “You bet we are.” “We are the church of the people of color, the church of women, the church of the mentally ill,” he said, a church of no outcasts."
My posts regarding the Episcopal Church or any other church are not to try to convince those who do not agree, rather they are to offer hope to those who have been persecuted by the various denominations and faiths. Hope that there are faith congregations out there where one will be welcomed without it being disguised with a “love the sinner, hate the sin” type of hypocrisy.
The Episcopal Church is one such church. United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, and Metropolitan Community Church are also welcoming. In addition, most denominations and faiths have individual churches that welcome and groups working toward inclusion.
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