[fygESytT]

The following news item from an RSS feed might be of interest to Monachos readers:

Episcopal parishes in Virginia voted today to cut ties with the Episcopal Church and align themselves with a faction of the Anglican Church. The major issue was the church's ordination of an openly gay bishop. We hear from members of the Truro Church in Fairfax, Va.
This news item is from the NPR Religion service.

Click here for fuller text...

[Stengapsept]

The following news item from an RSS feed might be of interest to Monachos readers:

Episcopal parishes in Virginia voted today to cut ties with the Episcopal Church and align themselves with a faction of the Anglican Church. The major issue was the church's ordination of an openly gay bishop. We hear from members of the Truro Church in Fairfax, Va.
This news item is from the NPR Religion service.

Click here for fuller text...

Well, I suppose this counts as sad news and unsurprising news - at least to Anglicans.

The Anglican Church has somehow turned itself into an experiment to try to determined the point at which 'being in communion' means anything; to do this whilst simultaneously trying to ascertain whether you can keep everyone 'in' a Church by fudging everything, was always bound to end in grief.

I just hope that the press don't play up the 'Christians hate gays' line, although I fear they will. The press really does fail to understand that regardless of society's views on such matters, this is a Church, and therefore we have to abide by two things: the Chuch's judgement and practice on this issue; and the teachings of the Church, upon which this judgement and practice are based. The same applies with Women's ordination.

But I guess this would require some research and thinking on the part of the media, so it isn't going to happen anytime soon.

In Christ,

John

[electmobile]

Since the only form of sexual activity blessed by the Christian Church is normal relations between a married man and woman (we can't say 'spouses' because the House of Lords has, in one connection, ruled that that includes homosexual partners), it would be just as wrong to ordain to the episcopate (or priesthood or diaconate) a man who was known to be cohabiting with a woman to whom he was not married or known to be in an adulterous relationship. Do we know if those who support the ordination of active homosexuals would also support the ordination of those known to be in relationships which involve fornication or adultery? If they do, then they are being consistent. If they do not, how do they distinguish homosexual activity from fornication and adultery?

Andreas.

PS And, one would have to add, in the Orthodox Church, the only permitted sexual relations are those between a couple who have been married in the Orthodox Church. I know of one priest whose Orthodox daughter married a non-Orthodox man in a civil ceremony only - he, the priest, cannot give Holy Communion to his own daughter.

[Stengapsept]

[QUOTE=Andreas Moran;39765]Since the only form of sexual activity blessed by the Christian Church is normal relations between a married man and woman (we can't say 'spouses' because the House of Lords has, in one connection, ruled that that includes homosexual partners), it would be just as wrong to ordain to the episcopate (or priesthood or diaconate) a man who was known to be cohabiting with a woman to whom he was not married or known to be in an adulterous relationship. Do we know if those who support the ordination of active homosexuals would also support the ordination of those known to be in relationships which involve fornication or adultery? If they do, then they are being consistent. If they do not, how do they distinguish homosexual activity from fornication and adultery?

Andreas.
QUOTE]

Dear Andreas,

One could say many things (but I won't) about those who wish to have 'gay' priests, but they are at least consistent, and don't see why cohabitation or adultery (as long as it is in the past) should get in the way either.

They are consistent - and consistently wrong from the Orthodox viewpoint. And even as I type this, I think of why I stayed there so long!


In Christ,

John