ATLANTA — To protest ratifying an openly homosexual bishop, several Episcopal parishes and at least one diocese are withholding donations to the denomination.

The Associated Press reported the lay board at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ga., for instance, voted 6-4 to suspend monthly contributions of $7,000  or so to the Diocese of Atlanta.

That diocese's bishop, the Rev. J. Neil Alexander, voted at the denomination's general convention in early August to confirm the election of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop of the New Hampshire diocese.

Similarly, the Rev. Steven Randall of St. Timothy's Church in Catonsville, Md., said his congregation would no longer send its monthly $5,000 pledge to the Diocese of Maryland, whose bishop, the Rev. Robert Ihloff, also voted to ratify Robinson.

In Florida, the Rev. Bishop Stephen Jecko, who opposed confirmation, instructed his treasurer to hold money for the national office in escrow until the diocese decides how it should be used, according the news report.

The Florida Diocese had planned to send about $200,000 in monthly installments to the national office this year, said its treasurer, Becky Peeples.

Officials at the Diocese of Dallas, which usually sends about $500,000 to the national office, told its 77 parishes they can decide for now whether to withhold that part of their diocesan pledge usually forwarded to headquarters.

At least 52 Episcopal parishes in 20 states, along with 320 priests and 16 bishops, have endorsed an online protest petition posted on the Internet. Another page at the site asks Episcopalians to consider withholding contributions from the national office and liberal parishes, the news service reported.