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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Protest disrupts bishop's sermon | Protest disrupts bishop's sermon |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Openly gay US bishop Gene Robinson was forced to halt a sermon at a west London church after being heckled. | Openly gay US bishop Gene Robinson was forced to halt a sermon at a west London church after being heckled. |
| As Bishop Robinson began his sermon a member of the congregation repeatedly called him a "heretic" and said "repent, repent, repent". | As Bishop Robinson began his sermon a member of the congregation repeatedly called him a "heretic" and said "repent, repent, repent". |
| He began his sermon by saying how sad it was that the Anglican Communion was tearing itself apart. | He began his sermon by saying how sad it was that the Anglican Communion was tearing itself apart. |
| But he was stopped when the man in the congregation shouted that the schism was the bishop's fault. | But he was stopped when the man in the congregation shouted that the schism was the bishop's fault. |
| The man's protest was followed by slow hand-clapping by members of the congregation, and Bishop Robinson halted his sermon while a hymn was sung and the protester was escorted from the church in Putney, south west London. | The man's protest was followed by slow hand-clapping by members of the congregation, and Bishop Robinson halted his sermon while a hymn was sung and the protester was escorted from the church in Putney, south west London. |
| You know, whatever you think makes you unworthy, I don't think God wants to hear it any more Bishop Gene Robinson | You know, whatever you think makes you unworthy, I don't think God wants to hear it any more Bishop Gene Robinson |
| The man was taken outside and left on a motorbike, but no further action was taken against him by police officers present. | |
| Bishop Robinson resumed speaking shortly after the interruption, asking church members to "pray for that man". | |
| Bishop Robinson went on to say: "This discussion of homosexuality we are having in the Church is not so significant because of what it says about homosexuality, but of what it says about God. | Bishop Robinson went on to say: "This discussion of homosexuality we are having in the Church is not so significant because of what it says about homosexuality, but of what it says about God. |
| "When someone stands up and says homosexuality is an abomination, does that make you want to get to know God?" | "When someone stands up and says homosexuality is an abomination, does that make you want to get to know God?" |
| Bishop Robinson emphasised that the congregation should reject fear. | Bishop Robinson emphasised that the congregation should reject fear. |
| He said: "I think God wants us to be bold, I think God wants us to take risks, I don't think God wants us to be afraid. | He said: "I think God wants us to be bold, I think God wants us to take risks, I don't think God wants us to be afraid. |
| 'Almost untenable' | 'Almost untenable' |
| "You know, whatever you think makes you unworthy, I don't think God wants to hear it any more." | "You know, whatever you think makes you unworthy, I don't think God wants to hear it any more." |
| "All you have to do is turn up and open up your heart." | "All you have to do is turn up and open up your heart." |
| Mr Robinson's sermon comes as the Anglican Communion gather for their 10-yearly Lambeth Conference in Canterbury. | |
| He has been excluded from the conference amid deep Anglican divisions over the issues of women bishops and homosexuality in the Church. | He has been excluded from the conference amid deep Anglican divisions over the issues of women bishops and homosexuality in the Church. |
| No matter what he does he makes someone mad Bishop Gene Robinson on | No matter what he does he makes someone mad Bishop Gene Robinson on |
| the Archbishop of Canterbury | the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Earlier, he said "a mistake was made" in not inviting him to the conference, but he would do whatever he could to raise the issue of gay rights "from the fringe". | Earlier, he said "a mistake was made" in not inviting him to the conference, but he would do whatever he could to raise the issue of gay rights "from the fringe". |
| He said he would not stage any kind of protest, but would simply "preach the word of God". | He said he would not stage any kind of protest, but would simply "preach the word of God". |
| Bishop Robinson also said the Archbishop of Canterbury was in an "almost untenable" position as he tries to retain unity in the Church. | Bishop Robinson also said the Archbishop of Canterbury was in an "almost untenable" position as he tries to retain unity in the Church. |
| He said that despite Dr Rowan Williams's attempts to overcome deep divisions over the ordination of women and gay people, "no matter what he does he makes someone mad." | He said that despite Dr Rowan Williams's attempts to overcome deep divisions over the ordination of women and gay people, "no matter what he does he makes someone mad." |
| Anglican conservatives set up a splinter movement earlier this month, in rejection of the acceptance of gay bishops. | |
| And last week the General Synod, the Church of England's ruling body, voted in favour of legislation aimed at introducing women bishops, a move which generated acrimony. | |
| Some 1,300 clergy opposed to it had threatened to leave the Church if the safeguards they wanted were not agreed. |