[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Question about New Testament (with OT)

[Kathryn Cawte]

 My problem with religious (and for the purposes of this post I am only
talking about the attitudes of religious organizations not attitudes of
individuals) attitudes to homosexuality is the hypocrisy involved.

Some christian churches say that homosexuality is a sin because the bible
says so. Well the bible also has (as far as I know) verses saying that
growing two crops in the same field is a sin, that working on a Sunday is a
sin, that 'thou shalt not suffer a witch to live'. Most mainstream Christian
churches do not now consider these to be sins (although some do still try to
prevent people working on Sundays - although don't all vicars work on the
Sabbath anyway?) but homosexuality is. Why? What makes one part of the Bible
absolute whereas other parts can be discarded as and when people feel like
it. 

Also the CofE attitude towards gay clergy is slightly odd - it's OK to be
homosexual provided you're not a *practising* homosexual. The guy who was
forced to withdraw from trying to become a bishop here was gay and in a
relationship (long-standing) but celibate, which apparently made it OK.
Heterosexual clergy aren't required to be celibate but homosexual clergy are


K