Censoring the facts about homosexuality

By Les Kinsolving

The New York Times’ Page 1 story on the Episcopal Church’s consecration of its first openly homosexual bishop included a photograph of the Rev. Scott Erickson of Concord, N.H., and the Rev. F. Earle Fox of Alexandria, Va., a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Father Erickson is looking so intently at Father Fox that his eyes appear to be popping – as if he were suddenly shocked by a horror movie.

The Times did not explain the cause of such a shocked expression, but the Washington Post did, as follows:

“‘It breaks my heart to be here,’ said the Rev. Earle Fox of Pittsburgh, before graphically describing sexual acts ‘engaged in by homosexuals.’ [Presiding Bishop Frank] Griswold then interrupted Fox, telling him to ‘spare us the details.'”

Father Fox holds a doctorate of philosophy from Oxford, where he served as acting chaplain of Oriel College. He is canonically connected to the Diocese of Pittsburgh but resides in Alexandria as head of Emmaus Ministries.

But neither of these leading U.S. newspapers mentioned this. Nor were they willing to report what Father Fox actually said – which led to the Griswold censorship.

This led to widespread suspicion that Father Fox had engaged in obscenities.

But the Associated Press in Concord allowed me to listen to their recording of his objection.

First he thanked them for their willingness to listen to objections. Then he noted the importance of judging behavior. And finally, he noted:

“Research on homosexuality reports that 99 percent engage in oral sex; 91 percent engage in anal sex. Eight-two percent engage in rimming – the touching of the anus of one’s partner with one’s tongue.”

At that point – of medical terminology with an absence of street obscenity – the Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop imposed censorship. Neither the Baltimore Sun nor the Los Angeles Times reported this.

Griswold wanted to be spared any details – even medical – of the sodomist behavior of a man he was about to install as a successor to Jesus Christ’s twelve apostles.

Les Kinsolving

Les Kinsolving hosts a daily talk show for WCBM in Baltimore. His radio commentaries are syndicated nationally. His show can be heard on the Internet 9-11 p.m. Eastern each weekday. Before going into broadcasting, Kinsolving was a newspaper reporter and columnist – twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his commentary. Kinsolving's maverick reporting style is chronicled in a book written by his daughter, Kathleen Kinsolving, titled, "Gadfly." Read more of Les Kinsolving's articles here.