LA's Episcopal diocese in `downward spiral'

An official with the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) says it's no surprise that the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles wants more homosexuals to become bishops.

The vote at the diocesan convention in early December approving the resolution means the Diocese of Los Angeles joins seven other dioceses calling for lesbians and homosexual men to be ordained as bishops. The Associated Press said the vote at the convention rejected the Episcopal Church's de facto moratorium on electing homosexual bishops since its 2003 consecration of New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson, who lives with his same-sex partner.

Faith McDonnell with IRD said the Los Angeles Diocese has been pushing for the ordination of homosexuals for some time now. "I think this will affect the church [because] its just another part of the downward spiral that the church is on and is pushing it further and further away from orthodox Anglicanism," said McDonnell.

"[I]t also shows that they're choosing to align themselves more with people who are even outside of Christianity than people who are in Christianity."

The resolution will be considered at next July's national convention of the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles also expressed support for homosexual "marriage" with the creation of the "Sacramental Blessing for a Life-long Covenant." Bishop Jon Bruno expressed dismay at the passage of Proposition 8 on November 4 – a voter initiative that amended the state constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

[Reprinted by permission from the February 2009 American Family Association Journal.]