An America We Can Believe In

In the furor that followed the consecration of the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire some years ago, I spent more time on the phone and in front of cameras than I care to remember. But answering questions about the future of my denomination convinced me that Peter Jennings was right: "In the overwhelming majority of newsrooms in America there is an appalling ignorance of religion and faith."

For example, when he arrived, one reporter for a major TV news organization said, "Before we tape the interview, do you think that the Angelican Church is going to survive?" No, that is not a typo. He also proudly announced that he had been assigned by his news organization to serve as their correspondent in Jerusalem. I remember thinking, "You are so far in over your head."