Question about New Testament (with OT)

[bluesqueak]

Kathryn writes:
> 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 a
> here was gay and in relationship (long-standing) but celibate, 
which apparently made it OK.
> Heterosexual clergy aren't required to be celibate but homosexual 
clergy are
> 
> 
> K

Uh, you are making a very common mistake.

The description of someone as 'homo or heterosexual' is a very 
modern idea. Websters has the word 'homosexual' dating no earlier 
than 1892. Even more modern is the idea that which gender you are 
attracted to somehow defines your whole personality.

Heterosexual clergy are allowed to be married because that's the 
only allowable form of sexual relationship in the C of E. If they're 
not married, they are supposed to be celibate. Some do have sex 
outside marriage, but that's human frailty.

Homosexual clergy are bound by the same rule that the only allowable 
form of sexual relationship is within marriage. Which currently 
means they're stuck - like an unmarried hetrosexual priest, they are 
supposed to remain celibate. And like unmarried heterosexual 
priests, some  are often not actually celibate - but again, that's 
human frailty. 

But the rules are exactly the same - sex outside marriage is sinful. 

It's the people who opposed Dr. John's appointment who were 
misreading the bible (IMO! IMO!). Because the Bible refers to 
*acts*. Not to inclination. If you'd told St Paul that someone who 
is remaining firmly celibate is a sinner because their inclination 
was to the same sex, not to the opposite sex, he'd probably have 
thought you nuts. Inclinations are a problem because they lead to 
acts. If you have fought your inclinations and remained chaste, 
you're doing pretty well in Paul's view. [See 1 Corinthians, Ch.7].

So the attitude isn't odd. It's simply that you are either married, 
and therefore allowed to have a sexual relationship, or you are not, 
and therefore should be celibate. 

Who you are actually being celibate from shouldn't be important ;-)

Pip!Squeak