Curious things are happening with regard to issues of sexuality. The Federal Government says it will not allow the Australian Capital Territory proclaim the law which will allow same sex unions. (The Feds can do this because the ACT is a "territory" rather than a state...they will instruct the Governor General to not proclaim the law. They couldn't do this if it was a State.)
A colleague today invites us to pray for the US Episcopal Convention with the implication that they may see the error of their ways and return to the scriptures. And I wonder how he knows that it is his view of scripture that should prevail.
And a document floats around our church which clearly has gay people in its sights. I don't wish to be paranoid about it but with a statement that "sexuality is a gift from God" followed lines later by "you are not to engage in sex outside of marriage" what else are we to construe other than the fact the if your sexuality is "same-sex oriented" you are not allowed to exercise it?
Presumably it means that this gift from God is not allowed to be exercised. Or alternatively that it is a different sort of gift from God. Or alternatively that we are confused in our thinking.
Let me say I find it strange that we will not do everything we can both civilly and in the community of faith to encourage people, gay or straight, to lead committed lives. I am sad that our governments will not move to ensure that prejudice of what ever sort is stamped out.
I am really, really sad that when it comes to prejudice against homosexual people, the Church so often seems to be standing at the front of the queue waiting to throw stones. Ohh there is a teaching about that isn't there?
1 comment:
Thank you for saying what you do and believing what you do. I feel firm in my faith and, for many years now, I've felt assured that my sexuality is no impediment to it. It's always good to know that there are parish priests like you who don't see gay people as a threat to the church.
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