Accusations delay vote on first gay bishop.(Chicago Tribune)

Byline: V. Dion Haynes

MINNEAPOLIS _ Just hours before a confirmation vote on the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, the denomination's bishops on Monday put the vote on hold after allegations surfaced that he "inappropriately" touched another man and had ties to a youth group that posted links to pornography on its Web site.

Already awash in controversy over the expected vote to make Robinson the bishop of New Hampshire and a separate move to approve a blessing for same-sex unions, the news of allegations against the bishop-elect shocked the general convention of the Episcopal Church. The House of Bishops launched an investigation.

Robinson made no comment on the allegations, but his supporters portrayed them as an attempt to discredit him and …