Gay Bishop Enters Treatment for Alcoholism

[5stringJeff]

Interesting how the bishop treats the sin of alcoholism as a lack of discipline, but treats the sin of homosexuality as something he can't control...

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Gay Bishop Enters Treatment for Alcoholism
By ANNE SAUNDERS, Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. - The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, is being treated for alcoholism, a step that surprised friends and colleagues but seemed unlikely to threaten his position in the church.

A key administrative committee said it stood by Robinson, whose 2003 election as bishop of New Hampshire caused a furor in worldwide Anglicanism because he lives with a same-sex partner.

"I am writing to you from an alcohol treatment center where on Feb. 1, with the encouragement and support of my partner, daughters and colleagues, I checked myself in to deal with my increasing dependence on alcohol," Robinson wrote in an e-mail to clergy Monday.

Robinson's assistant at the Diocese of New Hampshire, the Rev. Tim Rich, said Tuesday that a growing awareness of his problem — rather than a crisis — led to Robinson's decision.

In his letter, Robinson, 58, said he has been dealing with alcoholism for years and had considered it "as a failure of will or discipline on my part, rather than a disease over which my particular body simply has no control, except to stop drinking altogether."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060214/ap_on_re_us/bishop_rehab

 

[GotZoom]

Interesting how the bishop treats the sin of alcoholism as a lack of discipline, but treats the sin of homosexuality as something he can't control...

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Gay Bishop Enters Treatment for Alcoholism
By ANNE SAUNDERS, Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. - The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, is being treated for alcoholism, a step that surprised friends and colleagues but seemed unlikely to threaten his position in the church.

A key administrative committee said it stood by Robinson, whose 2003 election as bishop of New Hampshire caused a furor in worldwide Anglicanism because he lives with a same-sex partner.

"I am writing to you from an alcohol treatment center where on Feb. 1, with the encouragement and support of my partner, daughters and colleagues, I checked myself in to deal with my increasing dependence on alcohol," Robinson wrote in an e-mail to clergy Monday.

Robinson's assistant at the Diocese of New Hampshire, the Rev. Tim Rich, said Tuesday that a growing awareness of his problem — rather than a crisis — led to Robinson's decision.

In his letter, Robinson, 58, said he has been dealing with alcoholism for years and had considered it "as a failure of will or discipline on my part, rather than a disease over which my particular body simply has no control, except to stop drinking altogether."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060214/ap_on_re_us/bishop_rehab

Interesting use of words. "...rather than a disease over (sic) he has no control..."

He isn't actually comparing homosexuality to a disease is he?

 

[liberalogic]

Interesting how the bishop treats the sin of alcoholism as a lack of discipline, but treats the sin of homosexuality as something he can't control...

------------
Gay Bishop Enters Treatment for Alcoholism
By ANNE SAUNDERS, Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. - The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, is being treated for alcoholism, a step that surprised friends and colleagues but seemed unlikely to threaten his position in the church.

A key administrative committee said it stood by Robinson, whose 2003 election as bishop of New Hampshire caused a furor in worldwide Anglicanism because he lives with a same-sex partner.

"I am writing to you from an alcohol treatment center where on Feb. 1, with the encouragement and support of my partner, daughters and colleagues, I checked myself in to deal with my increasing dependence on alcohol," Robinson wrote in an e-mail to clergy Monday.

Robinson's assistant at the Diocese of New Hampshire, the Rev. Tim Rich, said Tuesday that a growing awareness of his problem — rather than a crisis — led to Robinson's decision.

In his letter, Robinson, 58, said he has been dealing with alcoholism for years and had considered it "as a failure of will or discipline on my part, rather than a disease over which my particular body simply has no control, except to stop drinking altogether."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060214/ap_on_re_us/bishop_rehab

How can you make a comparison between homosexuality and alcoholism? Homosexuality is a preference, that if "practiced" safely has no physical consequences (which is the same for heterosexual sex). Alcoholism is a dependence on alcohol that is not only unhealthy, but also makes you more dangerous to others.

Once again, I would never say the church has to hire gay bishops because it is against church doctrine. But, still, comparing this man's alcoholic problem to his sexuality is just stupid.

 

[MissileMan]

Interesting use of words. "...rather than a disease over (sic) he has no control..."

He isn't actually comparing homosexuality to a disease is he?

The way I read it, he is saying that alcoholism is not a disease as has been touted in recent years, but is a failure of willpower. I don't believe he was talking about his sexuality at all, but taking responsibility for his drinking problem instead of making up excuses.

 

[Avatar4321]

How can you make a comparison between homosexuality and alcoholism? Homosexuality is a preference, that if "practiced" safely has no physical consequences (which is the same for heterosexual sex). Alcoholism is a dependence on alcohol that is not only unhealthy, but also makes you more dangerous to others.

Once again, I would never say the church has to hire gay bishops because it is against church doctrine. But, still, comparing this man's alcoholic problem to his sexuality is just stupid.

No physical consequences? right....

What's it like in that delusional world you live in. It doesn't matter what sexual activity you participate in. It has physical consequences. Sexual immorality can make you just as dangerous and unhealthy as alcoholism.

 

[musicman]

The way I read it, he is saying that alcoholism is not a disease as has been touted in recent years, but is a failure of willpower.

I thought so, too, at first, MM. But, the more I read it, the more I think his wording is just a bit clumsy and ambiguous:

"In his letter, Robinson, 58, said he has been dealing with alcoholism for years and had considered it 'as a failure of will or discipline on my part, rather than a disease over which my particular body simply has no control, except to stop drinking altogether.' ".

I think the operative words are "had considered"; i.e., he's speaking of how he had viewed his alcoholism in the past. No one who entertains a serious hope of treating alcoholism believes it a matter of "will" or "discipline"; one must first understand that he is physiologically different - that his body processes alcohol abnormally - that he is powerless to change this - and that the only way he can regain control of his life is to stop drinking altogether. That's not as easy as drawing a line in the sand; it requires a whole new way of thinking - a change of heart.

I admit, though, that I have a problem with the "disease" designation. "Disorder" is more like it.

 

[liberalogic]

No physical consequences? right....

What's it like in that delusional world you live in. It doesn't matter what sexual activity you participate in. It has physical consequences. Sexual immorality can make you just as dangerous and unhealthy as alcoholism.

I don't live in a delusional world. Regardless of sexual orientation, if you engage in intercourse with a partner who is "healthy" (meaning he/she has no disease that can be transmitted sexually), where is the physical consequence? The "immoral" sexual behaviors that you refer to are just as dangerous as the "moral" sexual behaviors if your partner can give you something.

And of course, you didn't read that I wrote "practiced safely," which I just clarified above. There is no way to practice alcoholism "safely" now is there?

Don't try to give merit to such ludicrous arguments as the one posted here.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

I don't live in a delusional world. Regardless of sexual orientation, if you engage in intercourse with a partner who is "healthy" (meaning he/she has no disease that can be transmitted sexually), where is the physical consequence? The "immoral" sexual behaviors that you refer to are just as dangerous as the "moral" sexual behaviors if your partner can give you something.

And of course, you didn't read that I wrote "practiced safely," which I just clarified above. There is no way to practice alcoholism "safely" now is there?

Don't try to give merit to such ludicrous arguments as the one posted here.

It's not because the sex is gay that it's dangerous, it because the gay lifestyle is promiscuous, increasing chances of infection. ANd yes there are slutty straight people.

 

[5stringJeff]

How can you make a comparison between homosexuality and alcoholism? Homosexuality is a preference, that if "practiced" safely has no physical consequences (which is the same for heterosexual sex). Alcoholism is a dependence on alcohol that is not only unhealthy, but also makes you more dangerous to others.

Once again, I would never say the church has to hire gay bishops because it is against church doctrine. But, still, comparing this man's alcoholic problem to his sexuality is just stupid.

I will agree that homosexuality is a preference in that it is a choice that one makes - much like alcoholism affects people because of the choices they make.

Also, you are wrong to say that homosexual sex has no physical consequences. I've seen the stats posted here several times (perhaps Pale Rider or Musicman knows what I'm talking about) that shows practicing homosexuals to have higher rates of depression, colon/instestinal disease, alcoholism, etc.

 

[Kagom]

It's not because the sex is gay that it's dangerous, it because the gay lifestyle is promiscuous, increasing chances of infection. ANd yes there are slutty straight people.

As is the heterosexual lifestyle. The lifestyle itself isn't promiscuous, it's people who are.

 

[dmp]

As is the heterosexual lifestyle. The lifestyle itself isn't promiscuous, it's people who are.

Stats are meaningless - but I could show you statistics were practicing homosexuals have MANY TIMES the number of sexual partners as do Heterosexuals.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Stats are meaningless - but I could show you statistics were practicing homosexuals have MANY TIMES the number of sexual partners as do Heterosexuals.

But they'd be meaningless... unless, of course, you had the details on how they were collected...

 

[Kagom]

Stats are meaningless - but I could show you statistics were practicing homosexuals have MANY TIMES the number of sexual partners as do Heterosexuals.

Clay Taurus beat me to the punch, but meh.

I'm going by my experiences right now. I know way more promiscuous heterosexuals than I do homosexuals.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Clay Taurus beat me to the punch, but meh.

I'm going by my experiences right now. I know way more promiscuous heterosexuals than I do homosexuals.

Of course you do. Heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals roughly 9 to 1...

 

[MissileMan]

Stats are meaningless - but I could show you statistics were practicing homosexuals have MANY TIMES the number of sexual partners as do Heterosexuals.

And in the absence of the institution of marriage, do you think heterosexuals would act any differently?

 

[dmp]

And in the absence of the institution of marriage, do you think heterosexuals would act any differently?

Yup.