The first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion, Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire has this week admitted that he is participating in treatment for alcoholism.

|TOP|Bishop Robinson is known worldwide after his ordination as a bishop in 2003 despite openly living with a male partner. Since then a huge debate has engulfed the worldwide Anglican Church on the morals and ethics if homosexuality in the Church.

At the beginning of February, further controversy has been associated with the bishop as he checked himself into an alcoholism clinic, and is scheduled to remain there for four weeks in total.

The troubled bishop, who is also divorced with two daughters and a granddaughter, had also previously admitted to undergoing unsuccessful therapy to rid himself of his homosexual thoughts.

This week the bishop has issued an optimistic statement, describing his alcoholism as a disease and not a sign of a weak will. He also compared his period of rehabilitation to the resurrection, in a statement that is likely to provoke his critics even more, reports the Daily Telegraph.

|AD|In an open letter to his diocese, the bishop said, “With the encouragement and support of my partner, daughters and colleagues, I checked myself in to deal with my increasing dependence on alcohol.”

“I will be dealing with the disease of alcoholism which, for years, I have thought of as a failure of will or discipline on my part, rather than a disease over which my particular body simply has no control, except to stop drinking altogether.

“During my first week here, I have learned so much. The extraordinary experience of community here will inform my ministry for years to come. I eagerly look forward to continuing my recovery in your midst. Once again, God is proving His desire and ability to bring an Easter out of Good Friday. Please keep me in your prayers and know that you are in mine.”

Robinson's ordination and the blessing of same-sex marriages by the Canadian Anglican Church sparked a crisis in the 450-year-old worldwide Anglican community.

Over the past year, and large proportion of the world's Anglican archbishops have demanded action from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams over "unrepented sexual immorality" in the Church.

On this issue, however, Cynthia Brust, a spokeswoman for the American Anglican Council commented, “Our position is to have compassion and concern for anyone that struggles with addiction.”