Strength of their convictions? Episcopalian Rift With Anglicans

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

But a commitment to celibacy has an appeal to someone running from what is undeniably his sexuality, however reprehensible, and I think this is one root of the Church's sex scandals. Why not strike at that root?

So wait, are you saying that gay priests should be allowed to marry women as a sort of halfway house option, or that gay priests should be allowed to marry men?

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

So wait, are you saying that gay priests should be allowed to marry women as a sort of halfway house option, or that gay priests should be allowed to marry men?

Priests should be allowed to marry (women) so that the priesthood holds less attraction for pedophiles, and they no longer have a higher pedophile concentration than the rest of society.

That's important, but it's a distant second to what they really should do- stop covering up and hiding the pedophiles!

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

So wait, are you saying that gay priests should be allowed to marry women as a sort of halfway house option, or that gay priests should be allowed to marry men?

Actually, I'm saying that has something to do with the pedophiles we keep hearing about -- it happens enough less in denominations that allow married clergy that I think it calls for reform. I think the pedophiles and some of the gays try, and fail, to take refuge from their own drives in celibacy. But it always seems to squirt out from under the rug, and it's often even more perverse for having been repressed. Repressing your sexuality makes you quite dysfunctional -- though keep in mind there's a difference between "repressed" and "careful." And getting prison time for not repressing your sexuality isn't going to make you any more functional, and I doubt it would expand your horizons as much as your orifices.

I'd have to be fair enough to say that married priests should also include civilly united priests. One priest (Episcopalian) who's a good friend of mine would be a candidate, as he flies the Rainbow Flag -- and frankly, his partner is quietly cute. The criterion, I think, should be that his "manner of life" should be that of playing fair: no cheating on the committed relationship. Homosexuality, after all, is no more your fault than heterosexuality is, and the quietly-cute fellow I mentioned once said to me, "It isn't that anybody sits down and chooses homosexuality to take advantage of the opportunities." Your orientation is something the chances of your development hands you -- and sure enough, there's a continuum: sexual orientation is not binary or bipolar; it is continuous. That's the one reason gay-deprogrammers think they can claim success at reorienting somebody's sexuality by rigorous behavior modification: they ignore bisexuality. Their success stories are all actually bisexuals -- misinterpreted.