ArchivesTag : scandal
Clerical scandal, clerical isolation
A fresh clerical scandal and the disgrace of a Canadian bishop re-opens the question: is the old vocational model broken? The model in which priests are set apart in radical lives of service – and isolation? Isolation offers fertile ground for all kinds of dysfunctions. In my experience, God calls us out of isolation, not into it.
Full StoryWhich is the real scandal?
Coming out reconnects gay persons to spirituality, while attempting to live a false life that conforms to church teachings destroys our spirit. This experiential reality is a scandal to the conventional – but which is the true scandal? This life-giving gay experience? Or the frankly shameful views of two prelates, recounted in this week’s post?
Full StoryOf Pearls and Swine
For years I’ve been fascinated and perplexed by the story of the demoniac and the herd of pigs – both of which are unclean, according to the Law, since the demoniac is a pagan who lives among the tombs and pigs are – well – pigs. Jesus restores the demoniac to life and sound mind, while the pigs stampede into the sea.
Maybe it’s my experience as a gay man that resonates obscurely through that story. Despite all the pious cant about “loving the sinner but not the sin”, we’re considered unclean by the mainstream church, by which I mean an awful lot of very well-meaning, nice, polite people.
Our Scandalous Messiah
He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. (Gospel for Sunday, 5 July)
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