Episcopal Church Approves 2nd Gay Bishop

According to several sources, the Episcopal Church has approved the election of the second openly gay bishop in the Anglican fellowship. The announcement was made Wednesday that the Reverend Mary Glasspool of Baltimore would being joining the group’s collection of bishops. Gene Robinson became the church’s first openly gay bishop last year.

Hathaway Quits Catholicism

From Advocate.com:

Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway tells GQ magazine she and her parents have left the Catholic Church because of the religion’s views on gay issues. Hathaway, whose brother is gay, says she and her parents became Episcopalians shortly after he came out.

“The whole family converted to Episcopalianism after my elder brother came out,” she said. “Why should I support an organization that has a limited view of my beloved brother?”

Hathaway, who has been a vocal champion of gay rights since starring in Brokeback Mountain, says she isn’t quite at home with the Episcopal Church either: “So I’m … nothing [no denomination]. F**k it, I’m forming. I’m a work in progress.”

This may seem as only one person who is taking a stand against the anti-gay Catholic stance, but I would rather think it to be a trend as attitudes change and people become more educated about the LGBT community.

The Catholic church has been struggling to maintain their parishioners and in 2009, had to close many churches and consolidate shrinking congregations due to lack of incoming funds, which they blame mainly on the poor economy, however, the economy doesn’t prevent people going to church and doesn’t account for the shrinking number of service attendees.  The economy hasn’t prevented the Catholic church from pouring millions of dollars into maintaining discriminatory laws against LGBT citizens either…Perhaps it’s time to rethink their strategy?

Episcopal Chruch Donates to NY Gay Youth Homeless Shelter

The Ali Forney Center opened in 2002 to provide safe shelter for GLBT youth in New York City. It was named after Ali Forney, a homeless gay teen who was murdered in 1997. The center, which takes in about 1,000 GLBT youth each year still has a nightly waiting list averaging 150.

The Ali Forney Center has had many supporters over the years including the late Golden Girls actress, Bea Arthur, who donated a significant amount to the organization. This week another donor came forward, the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island which contributed $200,000 towards a new 16-bed shelter in Queens, New York.

More at: About.com – GLBT Teens!

LA Episcopals Elect First Gay Bishops

In order to fill two suffragan bishop openings, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles elected the first female Bishop, the Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce of San Clemente, of its 114-year history on Friday.

On Saturday, it also elected its first openly gay bishop. Reverend Canon Mary Glasspool of Baltimore has had an openly gay relationship since 1988. The development that gay priests would run for bishop is not a surprise. In the LA diocese, the Rev. Glasspool and the Rev. John Kirkley of San Francisco both ran. The moratorium created during the Lambeth Conference became moot during July’s Episcopal Convention in Anaheim when both houses voted to accept consecration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as bishops. Glasspool, who holds a master of divinity degree from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge MA, received 153 votes from the clergy and 203 lay votes. meeting the required majority of ballots.

More at: The Examiner!

Righting the Religious Right

“Religious right” is a term we hear all too often. But organized religion is starting to right the wrongs perpetrated by the Jerry Falwells and Pat Robinsons of this world.

This fall, for example, two more Episcopal priests in same-gender relationships will appear on the ballot to become assistant bishops of Los Angeles, and the Diocese of Minnesota has announced that a lesbian is among its three candidates for bishop.

The Los Angeles election will be held in December, the Minnesota election in October.

In 2003, the Episcopal Church elected Rev. V. Gene Robinson bishop in the Diocese of New Hampshire. Robinson is considered to be the first openly gay, noncelibate priest to be ordained bishop by a major Christian denomination. His election was decided with a 62 to 45 vote at the convention, a split that was reflected throughout the church.

Read more at: Gay & Lesbian Times

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