See article below, and: Vote! Make your opinion (or lack thereof) count!! Vote at Adult Christian Forum Thread 131408!!!. (Choices and link also given after article below.)
From a Virtue Online .org article, Congolese bishop says Robinson "Causing Pain":
LAMBETH: Congolese bishop says Robinson "Causing Pain" [/] By Hans Zeiger in Canterbury [/] July 28, 2008CANTERBURY -A bishop of the Anglican Church in the Congo spoke with VirtueOnline on Sunday about his personal opposition to homosexual ordination. The Rt. Rev. Sylvestre Bahati Bali-Busane, Bishop of the Diocese of Bakavu in the Congo , said that the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, the gay Bishop of New Hampshire, is "causing pain in the church."
Through an interpreter, Bishop Bahati said, "In my opinion, so many bishops are not here because of Gene Robinson. It would have been good to be forthright and also for Gene Robinson to resign. Most bishops are not happy with him continuing to be bishop in a church and he should have stepped down. That is my own opinion."
Hundreds of orthodox Anglican bishops, mostly from Africa, have stayed away from the Lambeth Conference, opting instead to attend the Global Anglican Future Conference in the Holy Land last month. Divisions in the Anglican Communion run deep.
Bishop Bahati reiterated his belief that Bishop Robinson is to blame for the schism. Robinson is "really causing pain in the church," said Bahati. "He should stop it completely. It would be very, very good to stop completely ordination of gay bishops and marriages, because it is evident that this is the biggest problem in the church at the moment."
Bahati then quoted from I Corinthian 8 in Swahili. Given the Scriptural admonition not to cause problems for a brother with a weak conscience, said the bishop, "It would be far better to bring an end to that [gay ordination] and it will bring healing to the church." [My ellipses and emphasis]
First Corinthians 8: KJV:
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Poll Question: Active Gay Bishop Resign? (From U.S. Episcopal Diocese) | Poll choices:
1. Yes. Unity vs. bishops' right to sodomy. / 2. Yes. Embarasing to millions. / 3. Yes. Against canon law. / 4. Yes. Completely unbiblical. / 5. Yes. Offense to all humanity. / 6. Yes. In sackcloth and ashes. / 7. Yes. And change his ways. / 8. Yes. And either Repent or leave church. / 9. Yes. / 10. Possibly. Christian freedom. / 11. Possibly. Tolerate the sinner. / 12. Possibly. / 13. No. / 14. No. Freedom of sexual expression tops other considerations. / 15. No. Make the world safe for sodomy. / 16. No. Next they will be picking on women. / 17. No. Next they will be picking on minorities. / 18. No. Sexual orientation unchangeable. / 19. No opinion. Important issues deserve much study.. / 20. No comment. / 21. No opinion. / 22. This poll is worthless. / 23. This poll is of negative value. / 24. Other.
Vote at Adult Christian Forum Thread 131408! Vote!! Make your opinion (or lack thereof) count!!!
