Episcopal
minister criticized for antigay "terrorist" remark

National gay rights group the Human Rights Campaign is demanding an apology from the Episcopal seminary dean who equated the possible election of an openly gay bishop in California to "a terrorist bomb which is timed to destroy a peace process." The remark, by the Reverend Paul Zahl, dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., refers to the fact that three of the seven candidates in contention for bishop of California are gay or lesbian. A vote is scheduled for this weekend. HRC's religion and faith director, Harry Knox, said Thursday, "Reverend Zahl should apologize for spouting such harmful rhetoric in the middle of an open and honest conversation happening in the life of the church." The worldwide Anglican faith, which has 77 million followers in 164 countries and of which the Episcopal Church is the American branch, has been divided between conservatives and moderates since the election of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, making him the first openly gay bishop in the denomination. (Sirius OutQ News)