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| Yes | 35% | 818 votes | Total: 2306 votes | |
| No | 65% | 1488 votes |
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Add to FavoritesI can only speak for my own denomination, the Catholic Church, but there is nothing wrong with a homosexual becoming a priest.
Of course, there have been scandals. We all know that. But that has nothing to do with homosexuality. That's sexual perversion. And there are safeguards against that - the Church has initiated the VIRTUS program which helps to stop sexual abuse among the clergy and lay volunteers.
Of course, if you honestly think homosexuality is sinful, then you're going to need more than just the "not all homosexuals are sex offenders" argument. So let me explain.
Yes, there are still people who think that homosexuality in and of itself is sinful. It's very sad that there is that kind of hatred still in the world. Most homosexuals don't make an active choice to be attracted to the same sex. Sure, there are debates about whether homosexuality is hereditary, congenital, or developed, but that's another debate. Most sane people do not choose to go against the deep, animal instincts telling us to reproduce, and to attach a stigma to themselves because of an intolerant society. Obviously, something beyond the person's control causes them to feel homosexual attractions.
And it's a crime to blame the person for it.
Homosexuality, in and of itself, is not sinful.
The Catholic Church forbids its members to hate homosexuals. You probably didn't know that, but it's actually true. Yes, the Church doesn't let homosexual couples get married. That is because the Church believes that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman based on three things: love for each other, love for God, and openness to procreation. A homosexual union obviously lacks that last aspect, so the Church doesn't allow homosexual marriages. And since the Church believes that sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful, you can put two and two together. (It is important to note that the Church frowns on sex outside of marriage regardless of sexual orientation.)
However , the Church encourages homosexuals to find a calling regardless, and some may feel the desire to become priests or other religious. And what should prevent them from that? If they go through training and show no signs of being the type of warped person who would abuse children, then there's no reason why they can't undergo Holy Orders. Vows of celibacy require the individual to forgo sex completely, in all its forms, in order to bring that person closer to God by removing that distraction. This can be done by anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Therefore, there is no reason why someone who has homosexual attractions should be barred from becoming a priest.
Learn more about this author, Andrew Garrett.
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No
Christian churches should not allow the ordination of gays. Here is a very simple and Biblical way of looking at the problem.
1) What constitutes a Christian Church? If a church wishes to identify itself by applying the identity of Jesus Christ in its characteristics, then that implies that the church wishes to be known as a place in which the teachings of Jesus are studied and applied, and where the person of Jesus is worshiped.
2) How should a Christian Church regard homosexuality? Jesus taught that any sexual immorality was an abomination. But, then again, any sin is an abomination. Consider, "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication (porneia), theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man." (Mark 7:21-23) Now, porneia, translated as fornication is a broad term covering any sexual immorality in terms of the Old Testament. This includes, obviously, homosexuality. Jesus forbids homosexuality, he calls it sin, and there is really no argument about it that holds any real sincerity.
3) Can someone be an unrepentant sinner and still be a member of the clergy? Of course god's forgiveness covers all sin, and if we were to select clergy on the basis of an absence of sin, no one would be allowed into service. But that's not the question. Can someone be unrepentant about their sin and be a willing pastor? Scripture tells us, clearly, no. In the book of I Timothy, Chapter 3, Saint Paul delineates the requirements of clerical authority. He commands that the leaders of the church be husbands of one wife, blameless, and of good character. This means, that someone who is sinning, regardless of the kind of sin, in an unrepentant way, is disqualified.
4) Can someone be gay and not an unrepentant sinner? This is a tough question. In MY opinion, homosexuality is a choice. It is like saying, "Today I will steal a car." Theft is a sin. It was my choice to steal a car. Sexual immorality is a sin. If someone chooses to commit a homosexual act, that is a will to sin in that particular manner. So, if someone commits a homosexual act, repents of it and leads his life with the intention of never committing that act again, then that person is as forgiven, as covered by the righteousness of Christ, as qualified for the clergy, as anyone else.
The problem with this is that almost every gay person I have talked to who is leading an repentantly gay lifestyle claims that he cannot choose to stop being gay. He cannot choose to abandon this lifestyle. If gays claim this is true, then by definition, they are unqualified to become clergy.
It is definitely not easy to tell anyone that they are living an unrepentant lifestyle. It doesn't matter if it is gossip, envy, lying, stealing or sexual immorality. All sin is an abomination to God. The problem, though, with the issue of homosexuals in leadership positions is that they are willfully flouting God's grace and denying their need for forgiveness. they are claiming that their particular brand of sin isn't really a sin at all. It is somehow different. The homosexual is in the same position as any human being. We are all fallen short of the perfection of godliness. But Jesus offers us the escape hatch. All we need to do is to recognize that we need the escape hatch of forgiveness. Being an unrepentant sinner, to choose to continue in a sinful lifestyle, is to sit next to the escape hatch and claim that we don't really need it.
Learn more about this author, John Devera.
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