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First openly gay bishop announces divorce from husband First openly gay bishop Gene Robinson announces divorce from husband
(about 1 hour later)
Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop whose election split the Anglican church, has announced that he is divorcing his husband.Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop whose election split the Anglican church, has announced that he is divorcing his husband.
Robinson, 66, who retired in 2010, made his announcement in an email to the diocese of New Hampshire and in an article for The Daily Beast. He and Mark Andrew entered a civil union in 2008 and converted it to a marriage when New Hampshire legalised the institution, in 2010.Robinson, 66, who retired in 2010, made his announcement in an email to the diocese of New Hampshire and in an article for The Daily Beast. He and Mark Andrew entered a civil union in 2008 and converted it to a marriage when New Hampshire legalised the institution, in 2010.
Between 1972 and 1986 Robinson was married to Isabella McDaniel, with whom he has two daughters. McDaniel supported his 2003 election as bishop of New Hampshire, which, caused conservative Episcopalians in the US to break away and was the subject of intense debate in the worldwide Anglican church.Between 1972 and 1986 Robinson was married to Isabella McDaniel, with whom he has two daughters. McDaniel supported his 2003 election as bishop of New Hampshire, which, caused conservative Episcopalians in the US to break away and was the subject of intense debate in the worldwide Anglican church.
During his consecration, having received death threats and having been the subject of a smear campaign, Robinson and Andrew wore bulletproof vests. In 2006 he was treated for problems with alcohol. In 2009 Robinson was invited to speak at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. During his consecration, having received death threats and having been the subject of a smear campaign, Robinson and Andrew wore bulletproof vests. In 2006 he was treated for problems with alcohol. In 2009 Robinson was invited to speak at the inauguration of President Barack Obama; after his retirement he joined a think thank, Center for American Progress, with close ties to the administration.
For the Daily Beast, Robinson wrote: “Recently, my partner and husband of 25-plus years and I decided to get divorced.For the Daily Beast, Robinson wrote: “Recently, my partner and husband of 25-plus years and I decided to get divorced.
“While the details of our situation will remain appropriately private, I am seeking to be as open and honest in the midst of this decision as I have been in other dramatic moments of my life – coming out in 1986, falling in love, and accepting the challenge of becoming Christendom’s first openly gay priest to be elected a bishop in the historic succession of bishops stretching back to the apostles.”“While the details of our situation will remain appropriately private, I am seeking to be as open and honest in the midst of this decision as I have been in other dramatic moments of my life – coming out in 1986, falling in love, and accepting the challenge of becoming Christendom’s first openly gay priest to be elected a bishop in the historic succession of bishops stretching back to the apostles.”
He added: “It is at least a small comfort to me, as a gay rights and marriage equality advocate, to know that like any marriage, gay and lesbian couples are subject to the same complications and hardships that afflict marriages between heterosexual couples He added: “It is at least a small comfort to me, as a gay rights and marriage equality advocate, to know that like any marriage, gay and lesbian couples are subject to the same complications and hardships that afflict marriages between heterosexual couples.”
In 2010, announcing his retirement, he told his New Hampshire diocese: “Death threats, and the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop, have been a constant strain, not just on me, but on my beloved husband, Mark, who has faithfully stood with me every minute of the last seven years, and in some ways, you.” Jim Naughton, an advocate for gay rights and co-founder of Canticle Communications, told the Associated Press the "strength, grace and generosity" shown by Robinson and Andrew would “always be a source of inspiration" for Episcopalians and Anglicans seeking acceptance of gay relationships.
Naughton said: "Anyone who is using this moment to pass judgment on what kinds of Christians LGBT people are needs to reflect more deeply on their own Christianity."
In 2010, announcing his retirement, Robinson told his New Hampshire diocese: “Death threats, and the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop, have been a constant strain, not just on me, but on my beloved husband, Mark, who has faithfully stood with me every minute of the last seven years, and in some ways, you.”
On the eve of his consecration, Robinson's hometown newspaper, Kentucky's Lexington Herald-Leader, called him: "The most controversial Anglican leader since Henry VIII."On the eve of his consecration, Robinson's hometown newspaper, Kentucky's Lexington Herald-Leader, called him: "The most controversial Anglican leader since Henry VIII."