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He heard God's voice

BY Dave Ross  on December 31, 2012 @ 9:00 am (Updated: 9:08 am - 12/31/12 )

gene.jpg
New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop in the global Anglican fellowship. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Among those who followed the recent gay marriage votes very closely was Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire who became the first gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church.

There are 100,000 members left as a result of that, but he has no regrets, because after trying therapy to cure himself of gayness, and after 13 years of heterosexual marriage, and two children, he heard God's voice.

"You know I actually felt called by God to come out," says Robinson.

He finally did at the age of 39. As for the first victories for gay marriage at the ballot box last November, Robinson says he thinks it represents an inevitable forward movement.

He predicts that Christian churches, even the Roman Catholic Church, will eventually change their minds when they come to understand what he believes Saint Paul is really saying about modern homosexuality in the New Testament, which is nothing.

"Saint Paul is arguing against a practice that would have been known to him in both the Greek and Roman world, which is an older man taking a younger boy under his wing and teaching him the ways of the world and using him sexually. No one is arguing for that today. That is child abuse," says Robinson.

As for the Catholic Church defining homosexuality as intrinsically disordered.

"I pray every day that the Roman Catholic Church would contemplate the seriousness of their words and the impact it has particularly on vulnerable, gay young people," says Robinson.

Bishop Gene Robinson's latest book is called "God Believes in Love."

Listen to full interview with Bishop Gene Robinson on The Ross and Burbank Show.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (67)


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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    "There are 100,000 members left", or "100,000 members left"?
    December 31, 2012 8:57 am
    If all but 100,000 members quit the Episcopal Church, it is now a very small denomination.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Dave R-has gay topics been the number 1 source of discussion on your show?
    December 31, 2012 10:23 am
    Really, you and Luke have beat this dead horse so into the ground that even the blood is gone. I voteD for the gay marriage and also hoped I wouldn't have to hear any more about it. Young people by a huge margin are cool with gayness. Why cant u give this boring, over done topic a rest. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @logical
    January 1, 2013 9:44 am
    This is Dave's blog...if you don't like it, why don't you find another?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    What a sad, sad, story...
    December 31, 2012 9:03 am
    A gay bishop, or a gay anybody, should be no more newsworthy than a bishop with brown eyes or red hair.

    We are as God made us. The religious people who are anti-gay must believe that God makes a certain percentage of mistakes. Either that, or The Creator enjoys playing cruel tricks on people.

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  • BeenThere wrote...
    Chuck.... The Creator does not play "cruel tricks".
    December 31, 2012 6:35 pm
    The great deceiver does. We all stumble because of our own selfish desires and lack of self control. The heart is deceitful above all else. May we all stumble less in 2013. Happy New Year!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    God told me
    January 1, 2013 12:07 pm
    to make a tuna-fish sandwich. That's newsworthy, right?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Yes, we are as God made us.
    January 1, 2013 12:49 pm
    God does not make mistakes, but we humans do. To clarify, yes, I am saying homos are making a mistake.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Everyone is entitled to their viewpoints and opinions.
    December 31, 2012 10:31 am
    Let's remember that this guy is Episcopal/Anglican/Church of England. He can speculate all he wants but he has no more insight nor influence in the Catholic Church than I have telling Hindus what THEY should believe.

    Personally (and religiously) I could care less about his orientation - and even less that his church OKs his serving. But it would be greatly appreciated if he would confine himself to his own church. If it is that true and appealing, it may draw members from Catholics, but otherwise, he might as well advocate replacing the Pope with the Queen of England.

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  • Drool wrote...
    "Replacing the Pope with the Queen of England"
    December 31, 2012 2:10 pm
    That would be a good start.

    Maybe the Catholic church should confine themselves to their own too. They have enough problems with institutionalized pedophilia. Heal thyself before telling me how to run my life.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    But, Drool, the point is right back at you
    January 1, 2013 1:55 am
    The Catholic Church is NOT, repeat NOT, telling Robinson how to run his life. Nor is the Church telling Anglicans how to run their church.

    Perhaps if you could get past your institutionalized hatred, you could realize that. The Church has freedom of speech, but 'tells' you no more how to run your life than do the Democratic and Republican parties.

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  • Drool wrote...
    When the Panzerpope.....
    January 1, 2013 9:42 am
    ....says one (or many including nations) "must" (his word) do things, that is telling people how to run their lives....including me.

    Go look up some of what he (and the church) has said.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    We are not talking about the middle ages, Droole -
    January 1, 2013 11:19 am
    I'm getting sick and tired of you Catholic haters bringing up past history. ... Give me examples of John Paul II telling 'you' what to do and you might have a point.

    BTW, I guess you COULD count support for Solidarity in Poland, an end to communism and peace in the Middle East as 'telling people what to do'. but..........

    Oh, and are those Christmas and Easter blessings for the whole world offensive to you as well?

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    The Church of England has had a hate campaign against Catholics for nearly 500 years.
    January 1, 2013 11:38 am
    Since Henry VIII declared himself in place of the Pope, hatred and discrimination has been the lot of Catholics in the English world. .. From the confiscation of Church property to the killing of priests to the cruel laws against the Irish (but, of course, only the Catholic Irish) even through the 19th century resulting in a famine that killed a million through starvation while England still took grain out of Ireland to the anti-Catholic 'Know Nothing' party in 19th century America to the unfounded fears voters had of Jack Kennedy's loyalties to even today some Protestants still speaking of 'Christians and Catholics' - as if we are not also Christian.

    Most recently, this inborn hatred continues in the gay community without remorse and among many who refuse to realize that pedophilia is an aberation, not a tenant. And continue to condemn the Church while the Boy Scouts, abusers in other churches and perhaps even a Jerry Sandusky are given either forgotten of given forgiveness.

    But it all stems from HATE. Were any other people - even any other church - treated in America as the Catholic Church is by their haters, most liberals would see it for what it is. Bigotry and hate.

    And this hate must stop.

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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @ron prevost
    January 1, 2013 7:00 pm
    I agree....right wing evangelicals need to stop hating the LGBT community!
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Cigar - hate is hate.
    January 2, 2013 2:38 am
    Your community and mine BOTH suffer.

    And neither should. ...... It is a new year. And my God does not teach hate.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    That voice he heard.........
    December 31, 2012 11:48 am
    Probably was not God.
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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    Nice spin, Gene
    December 31, 2012 3:44 pm
    I have heard a lot of excuses regarding "christians" accepting the practice of homosexuality within its members. This one ""Saint Paul is arguing against a practice that would have been known to him in both the Greek and Roman world, which is an older man taking a younger boy under his wing and teaching him the ways of the world and using him sexually. No one is arguing for that today. That is child abuse," says Robinson." has to be one of the silliest and most absurd and quite disturbing of them all!

    Homosexual behavior is in no uncertain terms listed as an immoral act throughout the Bible. There is no ambiguity on this subject. And it clearly has to do with individuals of the same sex actively giving in to the desire of having sex with each other. NOTHING ELSE!

    One can argue whether they are born this way, or whether they have a choice in the matter, but to try to justify the behavior by twisting the words in the Bible is just plain ludicrous. And then to blame God for his lifestyle and for his coming out....Please!

    If you choose to live an immoral life, so be it. But stop trying to justify it by spinning the clear words written in the Bible. If you don't like the message that the Bible conveys, again, so be it. No one is forcing you to read it nor live by its high standards.

    Quit masquerading around as a "man of god" when your actions fully betray your words...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    soo purletiv
    December 31, 2012 3:46 pm
    I concur with your assessment.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    aren't most people today on board with Homsexuality?
    December 31, 2012 6:00 pm
    didn't wevote for same ex marriage? Why does this issue matter one bit to anyone not homosexual?
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    It doesn't in the
    December 31, 2012 6:49 pm
    Larger scheme of things. I don't care one way or the other as long as it doesn't affect me personally. Don't try to legitimize it to me and expect me not to speak on it. You can be born with it or whatever the new flavor of the day may be, but just from a biological point of view, I am pretty sure it is not natural and if you DO believe in whatever religion, I am pretty sure that whatever god you believe in didn't promote homosexual relationships as the natural order to humanity. Just saying.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Did you make a vow to your wife, Gene? You CHOSE to have 2 children with her until god(little g) told you to give in to your temptation and then come out?.
    December 31, 2012 6:16 pm
    You weren't born gay. You chose to betray your wife, chose to leave your kids and chose to pursue your same sex lust interest. And now you fabricate some self serving doctrine to justify your actions. You don't have to be religious to have integrity. By saying God made you this way doesn't mean your not accountable for what you CHOOSE to do.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    rather hypocritical of you isn't it Dave?
    January 1, 2013 2:47 am
    If a conservative claimed to have heard God's voice you'd mock them...a progressive claims to have heard God's voice and you accept it without question and use it to argue that God approves of homosexuality.

    Just further proof, as if more were needed, to show the core trait of progressives is hypocrisy.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @rational
    January 1, 2013 7:11 pm
    Love is not hypocritical.....hate is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Love is not hypocritical.....hate is.
    January 1, 2013 10:51 pm
    That sure is a non-sequitur, unless you're admitting progressivism = hatred. Some may agree with you on that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    When you talk to God, it is easy to get the answer you want to hear,
    January 1, 2013 7:11 am
    because when you talk to God, you're talking to yourself.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    @forrest
    January 1, 2013 10:55 am
    You,sir, are simply an idiot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Hey po_guy, good to hear from you. What would Jesus say about you not giving me love.
    January 1, 2013 6:39 pm
    Speaking of idiots, I believe a 600 year old guy rounded up all the animals in the world and put them on a ark while God flooded the earth. I'm glad Noah swam over to Australia and saved all the marsupials too. Where would we have be without possums? And the Aussies would really miss kangaroos too. I'm also glad Noah tele-ported bison from North America too. The plains Indians would have been hungry without them. Speaking of Indians, I wish Noah hadn't let Indians, Asians, Negros, and Arabs come aboard the Ark with us white guys. Oh that's right, Noah wasn't white.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    Hey po_guy
    January 1, 2013 6:36 pm
    Was it God or Noah that didn't like the dinosaurs? Just wondering and God bless you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    Forrest....
    January 1, 2013 6:40 pm
    It must be hard to see the trees through the "forrest"...keep going, you are truly showing your ignorance. It is absolutely clear you have not one iota of intelligence concerning the scriptures. But you go ahead and KEEP THAT IGNORANCE, BECAUSE IT IS A PRECIOUS THING...ONCE LOST, IT CAN NEVER BE REGAINED.
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  • BeenThere wrote...
    Forrest..... Like you, everyone else thought Noah was an idiot, until the flood came.
    January 1, 2013 9:52 pm
    Even though they had every opportunity to listen to what Noah was saying and believe, they didn't because they thought new better. They died because of their arrogance(and the flood too).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    I heard GOD talked to Dave Ross and told him to retire.
    January 1, 2013 8:14 am
    Dave rejected GOD's communication and and said he was only going to act when he see's it come out on an official Democrat Party press release. Dave's one true GOD.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Cameron
    January 1, 2013 7:15 pm
    Then why are you spending time on his blog?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vanderleun wrote...
    Funny how these doughnuts never hear
    January 1, 2013 8:27 am
    God's voice telling them to just shut up about their penis already.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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