Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah has been a strong supporter of Robinson. Irish was out of the country and could not be reached for comment, but a statement issued Wednesday by the Utah diocese called the shunning “an extremely rare historic occurrence” and “deeply hurtful.”
“To single him out because of his sexuality shows a regrettable lack of respect for his diocese,” the statement read.
The Rev. Mary June Nestler said that of the more than 200 bishops in the United States, she knew of no other who was excluded from the invitation list.
In a statement Robinson issued, he said: “At a time when the Anglican Communion is calling for a ‘listening process’ on the issue of homosexuality, it makes no sense to exclude gay and lesbian people from that conversation. It is time that the Bishops of the Anglican Communion stop talking about gay and lesbian people and start talking to us.”
Utah’s Nestler said there remains a chance that Robinson will be invited to the conference as a guest, but not as a full participant like other bishops. With the conference more than a year away – it’s scheduled for July 2008 – Nestler said it’s too soon to say how Episcopal bishops, including Irish, will respond as the date draws nearer. She did say she’s heard “a number of bishops float the possibility that if Gene were not invited they would not attend.”
And I’ll float the possibility that if I win the lotto I’ll not go to work on Tuesday. Irish ought to stick to facts and not innuendo.
It’s Robinson’s behavior and teaching that are at issue, Ms. Irish, not his sexuality. Nice red herring, tho’.