While Pope Benedict thinks of the gays as dangerous bushwhackers destroying the rainforest of heterosexuality and Rev. Rick Warren defends his homophobia by saying he’s actually met some honest-to-goodness homosexuals in his life, Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church told the Washington Post over the weekend that homosexuality “Is a reality of creation, not just the human species … For some people to say it’s against the order of creation, it’s a very interesting comment – it doesn’t accord with what we can observe in nature” and then called homosexuality “a gift.”
Note to Barack Obama: Jefferts Schori lives in D.C. She’s available for any upcoming events you might need a priest at. Watch the interview after the jump.
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Kevin
Now if only the Lutherans and Methodists can follow. I’m not holding my breath for the Baptists…they’re just as hateful as the Catholics.
Jennifer
Hey, El Presidente Obama: I think Rick Warren is not going to be available that day. How about Kate for the Invocation? Now there’s change we can believe in!
thisismikesother
Quick background: I’m an atheist by virtue of logic; I’m a scientist and everything makes perfect sense to me without a god. However, my dislike of organized religion is completely separate. I just don’t like how divisive and, for lack of a better term, anti-logic most religious thinking is.
However, this woman to me is a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there is some actual good in religion. Let’s hope that others will follow behind.
Timothy
Thisismikesother,
There are (at least) two types of religion: that which assumes that it fully knows God and seeks to impose his set of ancient rules on mankind (usually others), and that which constantly seeks to come to some limited understanding of the Divine and to use it to live better, more meaningful lives.
Whether or not one believes in a diety, I think it’s pretty clear which type of religion makes better neighbors.
KJ
The process is not over in the Episcopal Church, but it has been exciting to be around for the “shift” that is occurring.
Thisismike, the references to PB Schori’s perspective “as a scientist,” refer to her PhD in marine biology. Her detractors belittle that background, for what purpose, I do not know. Episcopalians, with the exception of conservative “schismatics” who are afraid of ‘mo cooties and girl germs, feel strongly that religion with a literal interpretation of scripture and blind following of church tradition without the component of “reason” is deadly, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The facts that my brains did not need to be checked at the door and questions were encouraged while unanimity of thought was not required drew me in. Maybe it’s a trap!
Psychofag
Gene Robinson is hot!
FrBlake
Actually, the Presiding Bishop lives in New York City. The National Cathedral is in Washington, but the headquarters for The Episcopal Church is in New York City. As a priest in The Episcopal Church, and a gay man, I’m proud to have Katharine is my Presiding Bishop. She too, is a gift.
wemajey
@thisismikesother: My tears overwhelm me when I hear somebody whom God has granted breath say that he is an atheist. There are Columbian youths whom Jesus took for a visit in hell and they have written what they saw. I pray that God may remove the blindfold from you so that you may see the need to acknowledge him as God.
Jere L Griffin Jr
I dont know ? nobody likes my spelling So Just a Quick Jab I told ya So ! LOVE JJ
Jake H.
all things are G-d. your computer is G-d. your chair is G-d. you are G-d. your house, your planet, your galaxy are G-d. each molecule of oxygen in your brain is G-d. the mass of burning hydrogen we call the sun is G-d. G-d is now, then, soon, later, long ago. G-d is is. G-d burns, laughs, changes, dies. G-d is more you than you will ever be, and you are more G-d than G-d could possibly be.
if you don’t believe in G-d, you simply need to examine your definition of G-d. do i believe in a bearded old dude who sits in the sky on a flaming throne and says profound things to schizophrenics? maybe. anything is possible. but i don’t direct my prayers to that god. that god is just a god, not G-d; and yet that god is G-d, as all things and all possibilities are. to tell the truth, i don’t pray at all. or maybe i’m praying all the time.
whatever the case, i like this bitch.
Lichen Craig
The Congregational Church (United Church of Christ – UCC) positively affirmed homosexuality a few years before the Episcopal. It has led the Christian world in the acceptance of gays and ordaining of gays. Now, it is standing for the right to perform gay marriages.
We can only hope that the voices of the Congregationalists and Episcopals inject reason into the current debate in the Christian world.