NEWS Asian religious leaders condemn appointment of gay bishop August 6, 2003 SYDNEY - Asian religious leaders on Wednesday condemned the U.S. Episcopalian Church's appointment of its first openly gay bishop, warning that regional Anglican bishops might consider cutting ties with their American sister church. "Practicing homosexuality is culturally and legally not acceptable here," said Bishop Dr. Lim Cheng Ean, the leader of the Anglican Church of West Malaysia. Lim said Southeast Asian Anglican bishops may discuss cutting ties with the U.S. church at a previously scheduled meeting next week, because of openly gay Rev. V. Gene Robinson's appointment as bishop of New Hampshire state. "We will be having a meeting of the bishops of the province next week. We may discuss this then and a decision may be taken then," he said. There are four Southeast Asian dioceses- Kuching, Singapore, West Malaysia and Sabah. In Australia, conservative Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen said the new gay bishop would not be welcome in his diocese and urged opponents in the United States to fight the decision by withholding contributions to church coffers. "It impacts on all of us because when a branch of the church does this, its teachings become compromised." He said the decision was "catastrophic" for the church, and the start of a "loosening of ties" within the Anglican communion. John Dayal, vice president of All India Catholics Union, also slammed the decision to confirm Robinson's election. "The election of a gay bishop is a blatant aggravation of societal norms, and in India it certainly will not be acceptable," Dayal said. "Irrespective of denomination, Indian bishops and clergy in international forums have opposed both gay matrimony as well as the ordination and consecration of priests and bishops," he added. But the head of Australia's Anglican Church, Primate Peter Carnley, rejected fears the decision could tear apart the Anglican community. "I don't think it's a communion-breaking issue," said Carnley, who is considered a liberal in Australia's Anglican community. Robinson's final approval came despite eleventh hour allegations that he had inappropriately touched another man and was affiliated with a Web site that had a link to pornography. Robinson was cleared of the accusations a few hours before the Episcopal General Convention voted 62-45 to confirm his election as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. American conservatives and like-minded bishops overseas who represent millions of parishioners have said confirming Robinson would force them to consider breaking away from the church. Australia's Carnley said the appointment was likely to have a negative impact on the Anglican church, but that he hoped it would spur a moral debate on homosexuality rather than a schism. "It's an issue upon which we are divided but it's not the kind of issue that would cause us to turn out back on our Lord's teachings," Carnley told The Associated Press. "I think it's clear there is no biblical teachings about long-term committed homosexual people, so I think we have to have a debate about how to apply the biblical principles, which really apply to promiscuity, and apply it to this modern and contemporary issue," he added. The Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member global Anglican Communion, which has been debating the role of gays for decades. Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, has been living with his male partner for 13 years and serving as an assistant to the current New Hampshire bishop, who is retiring. Parishioners there said they chose Robinson simply because he was the best candidate. -Sapa-AP Related stories Episcopal church confirms first openly gay US bishop Cape Town Anglican archbishop calls for dialogue on gay bishop Episcopalians delay vote on church's first openly gay bishop Episcopalian church weighs confirmation of gay bishop Vatican to call on Catholic politicians to oppose gay marriages Vatican alarmed at growing legal acceptance of same-sex unions Vatican waging new offensive against same-sex marriage Conservative Anglican leaders internationally lobby against gays Christian group attacks "homosexual agenda" in Singapore Gay prelate who turned down bishop's post says he has support