NSW: Nile condemns US confirmation of gay bishop

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NSW: Nile condemns US confirmation of gay bishop

SYDNEY, Aug 7 AAP - NSW Christian Democrat MP Fred Nile today condemned a decisionby the United States Episcopal church to confirm the election of a practising homosexualas a bishop.

New Hampshire Bishop-elect Gene Robinson was cleared by church leaders of allegationsof sexual misconduct and approved to the post by a majority vote of bishops.

Conservatives say his approval is tantamount to the church recognising non-celibate,same-sex relationships.

"The USA Episcopal (Anglican) Church has thrown the Holy Bible out of the window becauseit has not only rejected the clear prohibition on homosexuals as clergy or bishops," ReverendNile said.

"It has also ignored the historic qualifications of a bishop as laid down in the Holy Bible."

These were that a bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, be of good behaviour,rule his own house well, and have his children in submission with all reverence, he said.

Mr Nile also said he was overjoyed with the widespread public support for his policyof opposition to same-sex marriages.

"I am especially pleased at the public support from national leaders including (US)President George W Bush and Prime Minister John Howard, as well as from church leaderssuch as Pope John Paul II.

"The silent majority who believe in the God-given sanctity of marriage between a maleand a female must not be intimidated by the hysterical threats by homosexual activistsor by journalists or cartoonists such as (The Sydney Morning Herald's Alan) Moir."

Moir's cartoon depicted Mr Howard and several other hooded figures about to torch twomen tied to a stake, presumably for wanting to marry.

AAP jph/nf/was/br

KEYWORD: US EPISCOPAL NILE