WASHINGTON — A new grass-roots group of conservative Episcopalians says it hopes to bring charges against the 35 bishops who participated in the installation of the church’s first openly gay bishop in 2003. An online petition from the fledgling group, Lay Episcopalians for the Anglican Communion, says the bishops who helped install openly gay V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire should face trial for heresy.
Under church law, 10 bishops are needed to bring charges — known as a “presentment” — against another bishop in church courts. The petition is intended to spur the bishops to file charges. Robinson’s consecration has prompted controversy around the world, and the new group is hoping that a push from rank-and-file parishioners will cause the 43 bishops who voted against Robinson to now bring charges against their colleagues.
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