Gene Robinson barred from preaching or presiding in England
Update, Monday 7:35 a. m.: It's official.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has denied the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire permission to preach or preside at the Eucharist during his visits to England this year.
From Of Course I Could Be Wrong, Mad Priest reports:
... that the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, has been denied permission to celebrate the Eucharist or to preach during his visits to England in the coming months. Bishop Robinson said he had written to the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting permission, and had received notification by e-mail this morning that his request had been refused.
Fr Jake Stops the World and Blogula Rasa are reporting on this news as is The Evolution of Jeremiah
No official word has come from Lambeth Palace or the Diocese of New Hampshire.
A commenter at OCICBW and another one at Jake's Place who were both present for a gathering at St. Mary's, Putney at which Bp. Robinson spoke have reported the same thing; the Bishop informed them that he had been barred from celebrating or preaching in England by Canterbury.
There's a discussion of this development going on here:
http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2008/04/bp-robinson-barred-from-celebrating-or.html
One suggestion is to set up a portable altar at the American embassy. No doubt the Bishop is too graceful for such a stunt, but personally I think it is a grand idea.
Terry Martin
Posted by Jake![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 30, 2008 12:16 AM
Barred from celebrating - hmm - I believe we all celebrate when we participate in the Eucharist (lay and clergy) -- no joy in CoE-land I guess.
Posted by Ann Fontaine![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 30, 2008 12:31 AM
Just yesterday Robinson was saying God would be disappointed with Rowan Williams. Given the news that Robinson will be barred from celebrating, were his words cause, consequence, and coincidence?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7374662.stm
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 30, 2008 8:09 AM
What harm is there in celebrating the Eucharist? I can understand this decision politically (though I don't approve), but I can't see any substantive grounds for it. What are the CoE's rules for celebration by visiting Anglican clergy? I should think license to preach or preside would be a rubber-stamp sort of thing. But maybe y'all know more about that than I do.
As it stands, this looks like political comfort to those who think Robinson shouldn't be a priest, or else an attempt to lower his profile at Lambeth. The latter would obviously be futile, and the former would be rankest hypocrisy by an ABC who's ordained out gay clergy.
I'd much rather not believe ill of ++Rowan, but this looks like, at best, more very clumsy politics.
Posted by Chris Ashley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 30, 2008 9:46 AM
This saddens me, and my respect and admiration for the life and work of Rowan Williams is shaken by this action.
I hope that the Archbishop rescinds this "banning" ... will he be denying permission to preside to other gay clergy in England as well?
Hmmmm, I hope he reconsiders this decision...
Posted by Peter Carey![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 30, 2008 4:00 PM
Thanks for the link. I was really only working from the original comment at Fr. Jake's place.
I'm so saddened by this "gag order."
Did anyone ever find out if Bishop Gene's planned appearance with Sir Ian McKellen happened, or is still planned? I just posted a query via Sir Ian's official website but don't know if I'll receive the favor of a reply.
Bishop for a Day
Posted by ginny gibbs![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 1, 2008 1:35 PM