Church dismisses religious charges against Episcopal bishop
April 13, 2007

HARTFORD, Conn. --A national review committee of the Episcopal Church has dismissed all the religious charges brought against Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith by leaders of six conservative parishes, the bishop said Friday.

The parishes had alleged, among other things, inappropriate application of church law in Smith's decision to support the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the church's first openly gay bishop. Robinson's 2003 consecration divided the U.S. Episcopal Church and expanded the rift over gay issues among churches in the global Anglican Communion.

Dubbed the "Connecticut Six," the priests had asked to be supervised by a different bishop because they disagreed with Smith's support for Robinson.

The committee issued an 89-page decision that was mailed on April 11 to attorneys for the Diocese and for the churches. There is no provision for appeal. The committee, comprising five bishops, two priests, and two lay persons, is similar to a grand jury, which determines if there is enough evidence to continue to a church trial. the rest