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Richard Ostling makes a similar point in an Associated Press article. The debate over gay bishops, he says, is divisive because of a larger battle—that over the role of the Bible.

"Until very recently, all Christian branches agreed that same-sex activity was immoral because of their age-old understanding of God's will taught in the Scriptures," Ostling writes.

Most of the world's Christian bodies maintain that belief. But in the last quarter-century, liberal scholars from some so-called "mainline" Protestant denominations in Europe and North America have argued against traditional Bible interpretations, often in books from church publishing houses. They say the Bible's overwhelming overall message is loving acceptance and justice for all people.

This has gradually influenced leadership circles in the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and United Methodist Church. Yet the new biblical theories have failed to convince legions of rank and file American churchgoers.

Indeed, it has led to folks like Robinson simply dismissing the Bible in favor of doing what they feel. "Just simply to say that it goes against tradition and the teaching of the church and scripture does not necessarily make it wrong," Robinson earlier told The Washington Post. "We worship a living God, and that living God leads us into truth."

But God is still on the throne, and those who still trust the Bible are still at work. Which leads us to one more story. In Denmark, 158 priests and theologians have denounced a decision to lift the suspension of Thorkild Grosboel, the pastor who told a magazine, "There is no heavenly God, there is no eternal life, there is no resurrection." Allowing someone with those beliefs to continue operating in the state Lutheran Church damages the church's credibility and is unacceptable, they said.

One wonders what Nicholas Kristof would have to say about that.

The "cover up" article you won't see in American papers
Weblog sees many, many articles decrying a lack of good sexual mores in society. Christianity Today has run several of its own, in fact. But Weblog has never seen it done quite like this.

Ten Commandments battles:

• Defiance over the Ten Commandments | Alabama's chief justice has 'no intention' of removing monument, despite judge's order (Los Angeles Times)
  
  
• Alabama justice won't obey order | Commandments monument will stay (Chicago Tribune)
  
  
• Alabama's chief justice defies court order | Moore refuses to remove Ten Commandments monument from state building (The Washington Post)
  
  
• Alabama justice won't remove Commandments (Associated Press)
  
  
• Appeals court rejects Ten Commandments challenge | This opens to the way to a possible case before the Supreme Court over the Chesco courthouse plaque (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
  
  
• Also: Court lets Pa. religious plaque remain | 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reconsider a ruling that allowed a decades-old Ten Commandments plaque to remain on the facade of a suburban Philadelphia courthouse (Associated Press)
  
  

Robinson appointment reaction and aftermath:

• Retired bishop Ssenyonjo backs U.S. gay bishop | Christopher Ssenyonjo is the chairperson of Integrity Uganda, an organization for gays, lesbians and bisexuals (New Vision, Kampala, Uganda)
  
  

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August (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47