Gay Bishop-Elect Cleared

A clergyman seeking to become the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church was cleared Tuesday of the 11th-hour misconduct allegations that threatened his chances of being confirmed.

Bishop Gordon Scruton of Massachusetts, who conducted the investigation, said he determined that there was no need for a full-blown inquiry of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson.

Allegations surfaced Monday that Robinson had inappropriately touched a man and that he was connected to a group whose Web site can indirectly link users to pornography.

"In both allegations it is my conclusion that there is no necessity to pursue further investigation," Scruton said in a speech to bishops.

The ruling allowed bishops from around the country to proceed with their debate about whether Robinson should be New Hampshire's bishop. It is the final approval he needs to win the job.

The claim of inappropriate touching was e-mailed to Vermont Bishop Thomas Ely by David Lewis of Manchester, Vt. A family friend said Tuesday that Lewis never intended the allegations to go public.

Scruton said he asked Lewis if he wanted to proceed with a written complaint and he "indicated he had no desire to pursue the matter any further."

"He said he was thankful the church had taken this seriously and that he felt `listened to,'" Scruton said.

Separate concerns were raised about Robinson's connection to the Web site of Outright, a secular outreach program for gay and bisexual youth that Robinson helped found.

Bishops learned of the porn link claim from David Virtue, a conservative Anglican activist and writer who has been among the harshest critics of Robinson and of Episcopal gay activists. Virtue said a bishop whom he would not identify alerted him to the link.

A member of the group's board of directors said Robinson hasn't been involved with the group for several years and had no role in developing its Web page.

The link is on an unaffiliated site that had resources for gay youth, Baxley said. That page provided resources for bisexuals that, a few links away, provided access to porn.

Robinson's supporters had called the timing of the allegations suspicious. His opponents had acknowledged they helped bring forward the Web site claim against him.

"It's very important, but it just is so contrary to my experience with Gene that I'm … it just kind of makes me sick," Rev. David Jones, of St. Paul's Rector, told CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

"I think it's absolutely pathetic that anyone would stoop this low," said parishioner Robin Cotton.

Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, has been living with his male partner for 13 years. He was elected by his diocese in June, but the church requires that a majority of convention delegates ratify his election.

On Sunday, the House of Deputies, a legislative body comprised of clergy and lay people from dioceses nationwide, approved Robinson by a 2-to-1 margin; a committee endorsed him by secret ballot Friday.

The final vote he needs is in the House of Bishops.

The American Anglican Council, which represents conservative bishops and parishes, plans a meeting in October to decide whether to break away from the church or take some other action if Robinson is seated.

Like-minded bishops in the Anglican Communion, the 77-million-member global association that includes the Episcopal Church, said they, too, will consider severing ties with the denomination if Robinson wins.

Robinson has rejected calls from conservatives that he withdraw from consideration to prevent a breakup of the church, as a gay clergyman did recently in England.