Fridae

After the bishops of the Episcopal on Wednesday last night dismissed allegations of misconduct against the Reverend Gene Robinson, he was elected by 62 votes to 45 by bishops of the Episcopal Church - the US branch of the 70-million strong global Anglican Communion.

Rev. Robinson's election as Bishop of New Hampshire was formally confirmed by a majority of bishops in the Episcopal Church amid cries of outrage from the traditionalists who believe that acceptance of homosexuality is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

Church leaders from Malaysia, India, Australia have warned that the move by the Episcopal Church may split the denomination and shatter ties with its Anglican sister churches worldwide, reports CNN.

"In countries like ours, it is not only contrary to Scripture teaching, but also not conducive in our environment,'' said the leader of the Anglican Church of West Malaysia, Bishop Dr. Lim Cheng Ean.

"Practicing homosexuality is culturally and legally not acceptable here.''

Father Pravin Fernandes, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bombay also slammed the decision to confirm the election of openly gay Rev. Robinson. He said that homosexuality is "unnatural" and as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, ordaining gay priests is out of question.

"Generally speaking, the church has considered homosexuality a disorder. While we do not condemn it, we think it does not go according to natural laws," he told India's mid-day.com.

Father Joe D'Souza, parish priest of Our Lady of Dolours Church, Dhobi Talao told: "If any priests in our church are found to be gay, they will surely be asked to leave. Our position is clear. No gay priests."

Sydney's conservative Archbishop Peter Jensen was not immediately available for comment, but he has warned the appointment would inevitably lead to a "loosening of the ties'' within the Anglican Communion.

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The American Anglicans were "turning away from the clear teaching of the scriptures,'' he told the Sydney Morning Herald this week.

Meanwhile, Melbourne's conservative Archbishop Peter Watson who refused to comment on the decision, referred to an earlier statement on Robinson's pending election where he said the American church "has turned its back on our unity and must bear responsibility for the pain and disunity that will be felt throughout the Communion.''

The head of Australia's Anglican Church, Primate Peter Carnley, who is considered a liberal voice in Australia's Anglican community, rejected fears the decision could tear apart the Anglican community.

He said Robinson's appointment was likely to have a negative impact on the Anglican church, but hoped it would spur a moral debate on homosexuality in Australia rather than a schism.

"It's an issue upon which we are divided but it's not the kind of issue that would cause us to turn out back on our Lord's teachings," Carnley told The Associated Press.

"I think it's clear there is no biblical teachings about long-term committed homosexual people, so I think we have to have a debate about how to apply the biblical principles, which really apply to promiscuity, and apply it to this modern and contemporary issue," he added.

Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, has been living with his male partner for 13 years and serving as an assistant to the current New Hampshire bishop, who is retiring.