While his presence might be required, what was unusual during this visit was the openness with which a national religious figure addressed issues of the day, not only with students at St. Andrew's Priory School, but in a sit-down session Thursday in the office of Bishop Richard S.O. Chang of the Hawai'i diocese. This was after a year of tumult in the Episcopal Church, when the first openly gay bishop was elected to head a diocese, and the fallout threatened to split not only the national church, but the entire global Anglican union.

But the visit also had its own agenda: to introduce Griswold to Hawai'i Episcopalians and vice versa. He spent about a week meeting student and lay leaders, clergy, on O'ahu and Neighbor Islands, said Chang.

Still, Griswold was willing to tackle social and theological topics, discuss issues as varied as "The Passion of the Christ" and gay marriage.

Frank Griswold

As a young man, Griswold went to boarding school on the East Coast and attended Harvard; he later went to seminary and received theology degrees from Oriel College, Oxford University. He served three parishes in the Diocese of Pennsylvania before being elected bishop. Before becoming presiding bishop, he was bishop of Chicago.

Here are excerpts from conversations that took place with Griswold. Questions followed by an asterisk were asked by St. Andrew's Priory students.

What effect will Bishop Gene Robinson's election have on the national church?

What will be the effect on the Anglican union?

"(The Anglican Communion) is made up of different regions that have their own sensibilities. In a culture in which homosexuality is never discussed, in which no one presents himself or herself as gay or lesbian, this is far more problematic. ...

"The present situation is a profound invitation to Anglicans around the world to listen more deeply to one another, not because they have the full truth, but because truth is discovered in communion with one another. ... I see it as awkward and difficult, but also as a profound invitation to explore more deeply what needs to be in communion. ...

"I am respectful and appreciative of our gay and lesbian members, both in the pews and members of the ordained clergy. The integrity of their lives and the gift they are is something that cannot in any way be denied. (But) I'm not about to say because we have a growing awareness here in the United States, we have any right to impose this on other parts of the world or say our experience is something that ought to be normative for you. Therefore the great dangers of our own way of perceiving truth — we see it as normative for everyone. I think some of our political relationships in other parts of the world stem from that same kind of arrogance. We're simply talking out about our own experiences, and I'd be very careful about saying, 'The world will catch up.' "

Why does the Bible call homosexuality a sin?*

"I think the Bible assumes everyone naturally is heterosexual and therefore homosexuality is unnatural. ... I think you have to take into account that the Bible was written many years ago. There are many things in the Bible over the centuries we've learned that are different from the way people thought when the Bible was written. For example, the whole vision of cosmos is completely different as a result of Galileo and others. Our understanding of health and illness is quite different. Many biblical writers thought if you got sick, it was because you were sinful. So the whole notion of disease, antibiotics — all this is what we learned. We've learned a great deal about complexities about who we are as human beings.

"One thing we've learned is that some people are naturally drawn in their affections toward members of the same sex, something the Bible writers didn't really see. If you assume everyone is naturally heterosexual, then homosexual behavior would be seen as contrary, but if you understand people as we do now, as having a very deep affection, well beyond if we're drawn to men or women, but perhaps having to do with the fundamental structure of their personalities, then we can say biblical passages that condemn homosexuality reflect one awareness of how human beings are, and we understand another about human beings. Then we can say being drawn to the same sex in terms of affection is not necessarily sinful."

What is the view of Episcopal church on gay marriage?*

"The Episcopal church is made up of people who hold a number of points of view. There are those who believe firmly when the Bible says something, that's the way it is; there are others of us who say the Bible has to be interpreted in terms of historical context, and there are things we've learned about the world and who we are as human beings, and therefore we can adjust our thinking accordingly. The whole question of gay marriage, blessings of same sex marriage, (are part of) the discussions the whole church is having. It has not come to any resolutions on these things. At this point, it's the dioceses having their own conversations and I'm sure at some point it will come to some clarity."

What about using the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance?*

"I have no problem with that, as long as they understand that God's values do not necessarily reflect political values. One thing that disturbs me is that some people equate patriotism with God's desire, which I think is narrow. If the nation is 'under God,' we should ask if our nation's policies really reflect justice for all people.

"My question: Is a nation under God serving the world, or is it self-serving? ... I think the phrase 'under God' is a challenge to look at its values."

Although abortion is legal, is it moral?

"The majority view is that abortion should be available. It is a regretful circumstance with which one might find oneself, but probably should not be entered into without counseling."

How would you describe God?*

"I know God largely through Jesus. God is abstract, out there. We were driving (around O'ahu) yesterday, looking at the waves, the mountains. I was feeling connected to the larger reality. But Jesus really reveals something through him of who God is. ... Jesus has a way of showing up, then going on in people's lives. There's a moment when someone will show up and say exactly what I need them to say. Where did this come from? ... Jesus participates in the reality of God."

Do all religions share the truth about God?

"Truth is not confined to Christianity. (However,) Christianity and its deep message of love allows me to see the truth in other religions. Most religions I've encountered have as their base love and care for others."

What did you think of the "Passion of the Christ" movie?

"It was extremely gruesome. ... I felt that some of the violence undercut the deeper message. I was so focused on 'Oh my! What are they going to do to him next?' Yes, flogging was in the Bible, but when they pick up the cross and drop it face down in gravel? That, I thought — and not that the four gospels give you an accurate picture of what happened, they're all embroidered, to some degree — but I thought, 'This is nowhere in the Scripture.' They're so focused on violence there was the danger of losing the message."

About the war in Iraq:

"I'm concerned that we started off with weapons of mass destruction, and then suddenly it turned into regime change. I thought it was not at all clear why we were really doing this. Before we went into Iraq, I wrote a letter and said I don't think the United States had begun to consider the consequences and profound destabilization not just in Iraq but in that part of the Middle East. I must say, those words certainly were true. The chaos has been extremely difficult to overcome. As much as I feel for our armed forces ... I'm also very concerned about the people in Iraq who are unnumbered and unnamed, who were done in by very unclear thinking on our part. Which raises the question, if we don't like some regime, somewhere, are we going to march in and impose regime change?