Gay priest ‘dismayed’ by 11th hour allegations

A CLERGYMAN seeking to become the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church was “surprised and dismayed” by 11th-hour allegations questioning his reputation but remained calm as an investigation got under way, a spokesman said yesterday.

Just as bishops convened on Monday to consider approving the Reverend V Gene Robinson, allegations emerged that he inappropriately touched a man and that he is connected to a group whose website can indirectly link users to pornography.

Presiding Bishop Griswold said Rev Robinson, with current New Hampshire Bishop Douglas Theuner and representatives of his diocese, decided together “that a thorough investigation be undertaken before we proceed”.

Rev Robinson’s spokesman, Mike Barwell, said Rev Robinson learned of the claims around 8am on Monday and that “nobody is falling apart”.

“He’s been amazingly calm,” Mr Barwell said. “We are not afraid.”

The inquiry threw the national church meeting into turmoil, after several days of intense debate over whether Rev Robinson’s election would strengthen or shatter the church. It was not known how long the investigation would take or if a vote on Rev Robinson would come before the church’s national meeting ends on Friday.

A claim that Robinson inappropriately touched a man was e-mailed on Sunday to Bishop Thomas Ely of Vermont. A man who identified himself as David Lewis wrote that he met Robinson at a church event “a couple of years ago” and “he put his hands on me inappropriately every time I engaged him in conversation”.