Nov 4, 2003 / 22:00 pm
The opposition to the ordination of the first openly gay bishop in the United States this week isn’t about sex but about Scripture, said Canon Kendall Harmon of South Carolina, a leading voice in the opposition to gay ordination.
"It's about the authority and interpretation of Scripture, about who gets to make decisions and how they make them," he told to New York's Newsday.
The concern, he said, is "about whether Christianity at the beginning of the 21st century is going to be shaped by wealthy, mainly white, shrinking Western churches or by the simple, faithful, growing churches of the Global South."
In fact, many of the growing African, Asian and Latin American churches in the Anglican Communion condemned Gene Robinson’s ordination as bishop of New Hampshire, less than 24 hours after the ordination.
In the statement, the churches said they would not recognize Robinson as bishop and called for Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, to create an oversight, which would allow churches to remain in communion but separate from the New Hampshire church. A decision on the oversight has not yet been taken.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA