This is an attempt to respond to Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning's widely publicized statement regarding the tragic Penthouse scandal [TLC, Dec. 1]. I frankly take offense at the insinuation in the statement that it is those who hold to the historic biblical standard - that sexual relations outside of marriage are wrong in the sight of God - are the ones who are, to quote the Presiding Bishop's statement, "inflaming and polarizing the ongoing already difficult discussion within our church about the responsible, proper, and holy expression of sexuality."

Furthermore, I must take issue with his words that "our church is conducting these debates in ways that help us discern God's will."

What Bishop Browning describes as the discussion in the church about "responsible, proper, and holy sexual expression," and the debate that is "helping us to discern God's will," does not take into account that in the past several years, the ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons has become widespread throughout the church, as has the blessing of same-sex unions. The truth of the matter, which the Presiding Bishop has never acknowleged, at least publicly, is that while one side has been debating, the other side has been ordaining and blessing, with never one word of objection from him.

It is those who have ordained non-celibate homosexual persons, or who have blessed, or authorized the blessing of, "same-sex unions" who have "inflamed and polarized" this church of ours.

It has been said before, and I say it again: A church that speaks with an uncertain sound regarding the morals of sexual behavior, a church that no longer upholds the historic biblical teaching that sexual relations outside of marriage are wrong in the sight of God, will see an increase in promiscuous sexual behavior among its members, whether heterosexual or homosexual. Furthermore, had the incidents as described in the Penthouse article been among heterosexuals, they would have been equally outrageous and wrong in the sight of God, and the call for a thorough and independent investigation, with full disclosure, would have been equally warranted as in this case.

When a bishop of this church says publicly that to teach people that sex outside of marriage is wrong "will not fly" in his diocese; when a male priest marries a young "boy from Brazil" in a ceremony performed by another priest in his diocese, with other priests of the diocese in attendance; and when the leadership of the Episcopal Church cannot make up its mind as to whether sex outside of marriage is right or wrong, we can hardly be surprised when all sorts of aberrant behavior is the result.

With the utmost sadness, I will declare that it is Bishop Browning, along with others, who are largely responsible for the present inflamed and polarized atmosphere, by leading this church toward the acceptance of homosexual behavior as an "alternative Christian lifestyle," and in the abandonment of the historic biblical standard that sexual relations are intended by God for marriage.

The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez is the retired Bishop of Texas.