c. 2003 Religion News Service

Heresy Charges Against Chicago Methodist Bishop Are Dismissed

(RNS) The United Methodist bishop of Chicago has been cleared of heresy charges by a special investigative panel after church conservatives accused him of abandoning historic Christian teaching.

Bishop C. Joseph Sprague came under fire for his new book, “Affirmations of a Dissenter,” in which he questioned the virgin birth of Jesus, his bodily resurrection and the role of Jesus in salvation.

A committee chaired by Bishop Bruce Ough of West Ohio found the charges without merit. Ough said in a statement Monday (Feb. 17) that it was clear that “Bishop Sprague knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, has faith in Christ’s saving and transforming power and is obedient to Christ’s teaching.”

Sprague, a prominent liberal and social activist, first sparked controversy last year when, in a speech at a Denver seminary, he said the “myth of the virgin birth was not intended as historical fact” and added that “I cannot believe that (Jesus’) resurrection involved the resuscitation of his physical body.”

Twenty-eight people filed charges Jan. 9, ordering Sprague to either renounce his views or resign his office. Fellow bishops who disagreed with Sprague’s theology called the charges extreme.

In a statement issued after the committee’s decision, Sprague said he only wanted to “stimulate informed debate” on church teaching. He said Scripture requires “constant, informed and Spirit-led exegesis, exposition, integration and interpretation.”

Quoting from the church’s requirements for bishops, Sprague said, “I do `guard, transmit, teach and proclaim … the apostolic faith as it is expressed in Scripture and tradition.’ And, in accordance with the vows taken as a bishop, I do `as … led and endowed by the Spirit … interpret that faith evangelically and prophetically.”’

Church members who rallied around Sprague said more room must be made for different interpretations of Scripture. “Either we are as tolerant and as inclusive as we proclaim, or the Christian family should hold us accountable for false advertising,” said the Rev. Marti Scott, church superintendent for Chicago’s northern suburbs.

_ Kevin Eckstrom

About Half of Priests Leave for Love or Sex, Study Finds

WASHINGTON (RNS) About half of all Catholic priests who leave the priesthood do so because they are in love with a woman or can no longer live a celibate life, according to a Catholic University researcher.

The study, by prominent sociologist Dean Hoge, draws from research in his new book, “The First Five Years of the Priesthood,” which was published last year.

Hoge found that between 20 percent and 30 percent of priests left because they fell in love with a woman. An additional 20 percent to 30 percent left because they felt “lonely and unappreciated” and could no longer abide by mandatory celibacy.

Between 30 percent and 40 percent of priests left because they were disillusioned with their fellow priests or the church hierarchy. And between 5 percent and 15 percent left because they wanted an “open, long-term relationship” with another man. The number of gay priests is not known, but experts say it could be as high as 50 percent.

Hoge found that between 5 percent and 10 percent of departing priests left for reasons that do not fit into one of those categories.

_ Kevin Eckstrom

Talks Break Down Between Vancouver Bishop, Dissident Parishes

VANCOUVER, B.C. (RNS) Mediated talks have broken off between Anglican Bishop Michael Ingham and eight conservative parishes staunchly opposed to same-sex blessings.

The two sides had been trying to reconcile their radical differences over the bishop’s decision to allow the Vancouver-area diocese to become the first in the country _ and arguably the world _ to openly and formally bless homosexual relationships.

Officials for the Diocese of New Westminster said last week (Feb. 12) that the eight dissident parishes have signaled they no longer wish to talk about reconciliation, but want to discuss separation.

“At this moment we have no plans to meet again. … A terminus has been reached,” Ingham said at a diocesan meeting. “The position of the eight parishes in the conversations has been largely to restate the position that they have taken against homosexual relationships as unbiblical and immoral _ and against synod and myself for presuming to bless what they believe God condemns.”

The eight parishes have consistently said they reject the authority of Ingham and want to be governed by an external “flying bishop.” They have withheld their financial assessments from the diocese, leading to a budget shortfall of about 20 percent.

The Rev. Paul Carter, representing the eight parishes, said, “We’re very clear the simple reconciliation the bishop has been talking about is not enough for us.”

Carter said the eight-parish coalition, which calls itself the Anglican Communion in New Westminster, has fulfilled the request of the Canadian House of Bishops to engage in talks. But now, he said, his organization will vigorously pursue finding an alternative bishop for the region, an arrangement officially called “episcopal oversight.”

So far, however, neither the church’s top bishop, Michael Peers, nor the House of Bishops has given any indication of being ready to allow episcopal oversight in the country.

_ Douglas Todd

Robertson Recovering From Prostate Cancer Surgery

(RNS) Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson was recovering from prostate cancer surgery Monday (Feb. 17) after what his physician called a successful operation.

“We are all very pleased with the success of the procedure,” said Michael Little, president and chief operating officer of the Christian Broadcasting Network, in a statement issued Monday.

“We thank God for answering prayer and continue to pray for Pat’s full recovery.”

The statement from the network said Robertson’s physician said “the surgery went extremely well and he is alert, stable and in extremely good spirits.”

The religious broadcaster announced Thursday to his audience for “The 700 Club” that he was due for the surgery. It was believed that the cancer was isolated in the prostate gland, which was removed during laparoscopic surgery.

Robertson is expected to return to work in a few weeks.

In addition to serving as host of “The 700 Club” television program, he is chairman and CEO of the network and chancellor of Regent University. Both the network and the university are located in Virginia Beach, Va.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Quote of the Day: Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams

(RNS) “Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells us only some limited things about 11th century Scotland, quite a bit about 16th century England and an awful lot about human nature. And that is what it is meant to do. And I suspect that quite a lot of narratives in the Old Testament are actually meant to work at that level.”

_ Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in an interview with London’s Daily Telegraph.

DEA END RNS