Obama Consulted
Three Times With Bishop Gene Robinson

During his campaign for the White House, president-elect Barack Obama had three conversations with openly gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson about what it's like to be a "breakthrough" figure. The discussions occurred in May and June 2007, The Times of London reports.

""The first words out of his mouth were: 'Well, you're certainly causing a lot of trouble,'" Robinson, who became the Anglican Communion's first out bishop in 2003, told The Times. "My response to him was: 'Well, that makes two of us.'"

The head of the New Hampshire diocese was in London this week to be honored by the gay rights group Stonewall. He told the paper that his chats with Obama were part of the candidate's overall outreach to faith leaders of all stripes. But because of Robinson's unique -- and controversial -- position, he had particular advice to offer the Illinois senator.

"At the end of the day," he told Obama, according to The Times, "you have to decide whether or not you are going to be paralyzed by threats and by violent possibilities or whether you just move on and do what you feel called to do despite the risks." (The Advocate)