>Dear friends....
>I'm not entirely clear as to Canon Law on this issue. However, it represents
>to me the continued sin of public homophobia in the church. I wonder if this
>same prelate would be as concerned about parishiners who had defrauded someone
>in their business dealings? Is the church ever going to get over the idea
>that the "sins of the groin" are of greater significance than other sins? I'd
>argue that homosexuality, or its practice is NOT inherently sinful.....but I
>say that as a gay Christian, and a clergy person to boot. Once again the
>church is being a terrible example of the love of Christ....
>D. Reusch
While the question of the relative importance of sexual morality versus
issues of economic justice is certainly worthwhile, it also should be said
that you don't find people often publically proclaiming in Church that fraud
is an acceptable moral choice and that the Church is incorrect to teach
otherwise. One of the things that makes such sexual issues more difficult
and complex, and perhaps exagerates the attention thought due to them, is
the lack of agreement about the acceptable norms and authentic Christian
teaching. While you disagree with the bishop on the morality of homosexual
expression, it is worthwhile perhaps to give the bishop credit for acting
out of a sincere belief of the proper Christian moral teaching. If you in
your role as clergy found that a large number of people in the Church
entrusted to your care were not only defrauding their neighbours, but doing
so openly and challenging your moral judgement of their actions, what
pastoral responses would you find acceptable?
Thomas Jackson
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