Bishop Gene Robinson Advises Pope Benedict To Stop Scapegoating Gays, British Conservative Candidate Contends Homosexuality Akin To Demonic Possession, The Celebrity Coming Out Is Country Singer Chely Wright, Robert Pattinson And Taylor Lautner Spotting, Tom Brady Does The Downs

Gene Robinson, the first openly gay elected Episcopalian Bishop in America, writes an open letter to Pope Benedict, sharing advice regarding the child sex abuse scandal the Catholic Church is currently trying to manage. Robinson calls for the truth to be told, but perhaps most importantly, argues that for the Church to implicate homosexuality in the travesty is grotesquely wrong. “I believe it is misguided and wrong for gay men to be scapegoated in this scandal,” writes Robinson, “as a gay man, I know the pain and the verbal and physical violence that can come from the thoroughly debunked myth connecting homosexuality and the abuse of children. In the media, representatives of and advocates for the Roman Catholic Church have laid blame for sexual abuse at the feet of gay priests. These people know, or should know, that every reputable scientific study shows that homosexuals are no more or less likely to be child abusers than heterosexuals. Psychologically healthy homosexual men are no more drawn to little boys than psychologically healthy heterosexual men are drawn to little girls.” Robinson adds that “homosexual priest have faithfully and responsibly served God throughout Catholic history. To scapegoat them and deprive them of their pulpits is a tragedy for the people they serve and for the church. Yours is a problem of abuse, not sexual orientation.”

A report on Philippa Stroud, a member of the Conservative Party, a candidate for a seat in the Parliament this Thursday, one she is likely to win, and the founder of the King’s Arm Project: a church and shelter that counselled gays, instructed them that homosexuality was an addiction, akin to a demonic possession, that could be cured through prayer. Stroud speaks candidly of her Christianity, and tells of how her faith motivated a mission to Hong Kong, where she worked with the poor. Abi, a teenage girl with transsexuals, was sent to the King’s Arm Project by her parents, who were evangelical Christians. “Convinced I was demonically possessed, my parents made the decision to move to Bedford, because of this woman (Stroud)who had come back from Hong Kong and had the power to set me free,” says Abi. “She wanted me to know all my thinking was wrong. I was wrong and the so-called demons inside me were wrong. The session ended with her and others praying over me, calling out the demons. She really believed things like homosexuality, transsexualism and addiction could be fixed just by a prayer, all in the name of Jesus.” The Conservative Party has been desperate to court gay voters; the David Cameron led party and its members frequently responsible for homophobic comments, including one made by Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary, who said he contended Christian bed and breakfast owners should have the right to refuse gay couples.

The First Annual National Celebrity Coming Out Day set for May 5th, was to be Shelby Lynne, although truth be told, I had long thought Shelby was already out, but now there appears to be a clear winner (or clear coming out, if you will), and that is country singer Chely Wright. The 39 year old who had a number country song in 1999 with Single White Female, is set to return with an autobiography – Like Me – and an album – Lifted Off the Ground – both scheduled to for release May 4th, the day before the purported People magazine exclusive announcing she is gay. According to her biography, Howard Bragman, the publicist who is orchestrating this coming out, is Wright’s publicist. Mystery solved.

Two Twilight smoking sexy studs – Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner – spotted at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday returning from Vancouver, British Columbia, where they worked on last minute reshoots for Eclipse.

Tom Brady spotted attending the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby.