The Washington Post has a front page article on the vote of seven conservative Episcopalian parishes in Virginia that have voted to leave the US Episcopal Church and affiliate with the Episcopal Church of Nigeria.
Two of the congregations are among the state’s largest and most historic: Truro Church in Fairfax City and The Falls Church in Falls Church, which have roots in the 1700s. Their leaders have been in the vanguard of a national effort to establish a conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church, the U.S. wing of the 77 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion.
[…]
The votes are fresh evidence of an increasingly bitter split within the U.S. Episcopal Church. Seven of its 111 dioceses have rejected the authority of Presiding U.S. Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, installed in November as the first woman to head an Anglican church. Schori supports V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man elected bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
So it seems it the split is about women and gays. How refreshing.
Mason Conservative reported on the issue earlier this month. In the comments is one from NLS, in which he says that Truro is the church of Chap Petersen. The WashPo article says that “more than 90 percent of eligible voters resolved to sever ties” with the US church.
Was Chap in the”more than 90%” crowd? If so, why? If not, why not? Will this be an issue in the upcoming campaign?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Are we going to start asking Catholics if they agree with everything the Pope says? This post is the kind of thing we should have moved past years ago Vivian. It was a secret ballot, why do we care how he voted? I have no idea, and I would never ask him, because I don’t believe anyone of faith should have that questioned in the name of politics.
Amen, Ben.
Ben,
YOU also brought this up on Mason Conservative – so don’t jump down Vivian’s throat so fast. If Chap wants to be a public figure again, then he should not mind answering these questions.
I live in Devolites-Davis’ district (I assume Chap is running against her next year) and Chap’s name was brought up yesterday during several email exchanges about this very subject. Some of us local Dems are very concerned.
Look over at RK, even your buddy phriendlyjaime and others are disgusted with these Church members.
http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6369
If Chap is one of those members who voted yes, then he needs to explain this NOW. What are his real views on gays, what are his real views on women clergy? Does he really believe that gays should be thrown in jail like in Nigeria? Does he believe women cannot be on the same level as men?
Before we jump in and contribute our valuable money, time and energy in defeating Devolites-Davis, we darn well better know if Chap really is someone that us Dems can count on in the Senate. From where I stand, Devolites-Davis looks a lot more moderate and Chap looks a lot more conservative.
I applaud Vivian for asking these questions.
I brought it up as an interesting side note. I never suggested it would be appropriate to do what Vivian has just done. This is exactly what Republicans did in 1960 to John F. Kennedy, and I am appalled that Democrats think it is ok to do today. This is NOT acceptable behavior.
Nope. The question isn’t about a secret ballot. The question is whether or not he supports or condemns gays and lesbians in Virginia.
I, for one, will never lend my support to a homobigot, Democrat or otherwise. There is a line, and that is a line I will not cross.
The Episcopal congregations have a perfect right to get in bed with a backwards, violently bigoted archbishop from Africa who believes gay people should be imprisoned. Those congregations have a perfect right to damn gay men and lesbians ten times a day. But politicians who support those actions have no right to expect votes from progressives.
Not Chap! and K got to exactly my reasons for asking the questions. We do have a right to know whether a fellow D is with us or against us.
Tim Kaine’s Catholicism was an issue in the 2005 election. Kaine handled it well, saying that while he was a Catholic, he would uphold the law. And he has.
and the questions asked of Tim were totally inappropriate, and caused a voter backlash. I don’t remember any Democrats asking those questions of Tim. Disgusting.
If someone’s religious views teach them to discriminate against gays and lesbians it is a legitimate issue.
Peterson voted to overide Warner’s veto of a get-the-gays marriage bill. Initially he supported the get-the-gays amendment, and then changed his mind and publicly opposed it.
This will hurt Peterson in attracting volunteers but it will not be an issue in the election because JMDD is just as bad, in fact she voted for the get-the-gays amendment. Her hypocrisy will also be a legitimate issue.
Alice, you are talking about 2004’s HB751, right?
Ben. Ben. Ben. Of all the things you have written about past and current candidates! Yet you hide behind a chair for this one?
This might be a huge issue and I will not be surprised if Devolites-Davis bogs down Chap with his newfound Nigerian connection. This whole church breakup and unity with a sect that devalues basic rights for gays and women is wrong. I refuse to be a friend to anyone who voted yes for such a deranged ultra-conservative philosophy.
I’m closing up my checkbook and my volunteer calendar until I get an acceptable explanation from Chap.
As for Tim Kaine, it was appropriate for voters to ask him about his views because there are issues (death penalty, state-funded research) that conflict with his religion. He gave acceptable and honest answers. I can count on him as our democratic Governor.
I sure hope Chap was part of that 90%.
Scripture is clear on the matter of “homosexual offenses.” It is right there with those who practice adultery and fornication.
Chap would be showing a lack of spiritual discernment otherwise.
“I will not be surprised if Devolites-Davis bogs down Chap with his newfound Nigerian connection.”
She would be a fool to go down that road.
Alice,
Do you have any idea what this Nigerian church is up to?
Do some research. It is painful to read.
A Four Buzz Salute for Vivian!!
Viva la Vivian!!
Any person seeking public figure should be asked serious questions regarding bigotry and discrimination. Isn’t that what happened in the case of George Allen? I didn’t hear NLS fuzzing about the macacaw indignation.
Maybe NLS doesn’t see equal rights for the LGBT as an important issue? Sure seems that way to me….
Voters have a right to know a candidates values and opinions BEFORE we support them…
And if that person is a homophobic “homobigot” (thak you K for the new word) in the Democratic party….they will have a very difficult time getting volunteers…Just ask the Va Beach homobigot himself–Phil Kellam.
Buzz…Buzz…Buzz…Buzz….