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MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson said he led a confidential retreat a few years ago for gay Roman Catholic priests. Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church and world Anglican Communion, said the Catholic priest group that organized the meeting had invited him to attend. About 75 Catholic clergy from around the U.S. participated without notifying their bishops or provincial leaders, Robinson said. In 2005, the Vatican issued a document affirming the church’s stance that men with “deep-seated” attraction to other men should not be ordained. The retreat was held outside of New England, but Robinson would not say where. The Laconia Daily Sun reports that Robinson briefly discussed the retreat during a question-and-answer session after a viewing Oct. 25 of “For The Bible Tells Me So,” a documentary featuring his life story. The film makes a link between sexism and anti-gay prejudice, contending that “at its root, the hatred of gays is driven by a hatred and second-class status of women,” Robinson said. Robinson said he made a similar point in the priests’ retreat. “I had said to them, ‘It’s too dangerous for you to come out as gay to your superiors, but I believe that if you work for the ordination of women in your church, you will go a long way toward opening the door for the acceptance of gay priests,” Robinson said.
WAXAHACHIE, Texas (AP) — Three members of a gay rights group on a nationwide bus tour of faith-based universities were arrested Oct. 29 after going to a private campus that had banned them, officials said. Three members of Soulforce were charged with trespassing after they tried to go to a chapel service at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, a 1,900-student Pentecostal school, according to the Waxahachie Police Department. The group earlier sent a letter to Southwestern Assemblies requesting a forum, but the president declined and asked Soulforce to stay off campus, said university spokesperson Ryan McElhany. “It’s not a question that’s up for debate for us,” McElhany said. “We love the people, but we do believe that homosexuality is a sin.” The Southwestern Assemblies handbook lists homosexuality as an offense for which a student can be expelled.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — As Albany County officials investigate the possibility that the Matthew Shepard autopsy report may be missing, the pathologist who conducted the 1998 autopsy says he still has a copy of the original record. Dr. Patrick Allen said he has kept records of all of his work, including the Shepard autopsy, which is among many that seem to be missing from the Albany County coroner’s office. Coroner Tom Furgeson has claimed records were missing when he took over in 2007. Julie Heggie, who served as coroner from 1990 to 2006, has said she handed over autopsy reports to the county attorney when she left office. Albany County Sheriff James Pond said last week that he’s working with Furgeson on a “fact-finding inquiry” to determine whether any records are missing. The inquiry includes a review of the types of records that should be maintained in the office, he said. Shepard was a gay University of Wyoming student whose beating death in Laramie garnered national attention. The two men convicted in the case are serving life sentences in prison for the murder.
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Hundreds of Washington State University students rallied last week on behalf of gay students who were recently attacked. Many wore red to show support and carried signs that said, “End Hate.” Radio station KRPL reports that WSU President Elson Floyd cancelled a business trip to return to campus for the rally. Students stopped him from speaking Oct. 28, saying this was the administration’s time to listen. Campus and Pullman police are investigating three possible hate crimes in two October assaults on campus and one at College Hill.
From staff and wire reports
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