The death in the USA of a bishop resonates in Ireland.
In the discussion on “Sunday Sequence” this week (see report on this site) the Archbishop of Armagh stated that the House of Bishops had not considered the issue of the ordination of homosexual clergy who were living with a partner since 2003.
In the same programme, the Reverend Barry Ford said that the Church of Ireland had not been given time to discuss the issue and a situation had been foisted upon the church by the institution in Cashel diocese of a cleric in a civil relationship.
By ironic coincidence this discussion took place on the day that the death took place of Bishop Walter Righter, the retired bishop of Iowa. Few in Ireland seem to have heard of him.
Bishop Righter was tried for heresy in 1996 for ordaining an partnered gay man.
In the fall of 1990, Barry Stopfel was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Newark. Stopfel is gay and, at the time of his ordination, was living “in a sexual partnership” with another man. The assistant bishop of Newark, the Rt. Revd Walter Righter, was facing a church court over his decision to ordain the gay man. On May 15, 1996, an Episcopal Church court dismissed charges against Righter. The Court held that neither the doctrine nor the discipline of the Church currently prohibit the ordination of a non-celibate homosexual person living in a committed relationship.
Thirty six bishops signed a statement in support of Righter’s actions:
“We the undersigned recognize the witness of the Rt. Rev. Walter C. Righter to the Christ who lived, died and rose for the salvation of all. Walter Righter’s trial is a trial of the Gospel, a trial of justice, a trial of fairness, and a trial of the church. We stand with Bishop Righter. We feel charged as Bishop Righter is charged. We feel on trial as Bishop Righter is on trial. Should he be found guilty, we are guilty. Should Bishop Righter be sentenced, we will accept his sentence as our own.”
So, the issue has been somewhat on the back burner for over 21 years – if not for two centuries…
How dare an Irish bishop act with indecent haste! And if, and may heaven forbid, he were to be put on trial, one wonders who amongst his peers will stand with him.
Houston McKelvey