Gay Bishops

The Archbishop of Canterbury has declared that gay bishops are acceptable to him as long as they are celibate. This is like saying vegetarians are fine as long as they do not eat vegetables. Celibacy has all but brought the Catholic Church to its knees and certainly damaged its image. It is unhealthy, unnatural and likely cause all kinds of probelms if not voluntary and by choice.

The Church of England was founded because the people of England wanted to be free of domination by an autocratic church of Rome and its rigid interpretation of christian teaching. The church of England was enshrined in our Constitution to guarantee freedom of thought and interpretation according to conscience rather than edict. It established a tradition of re-interpretation of meaning as understanding of meaning, purpose and origins evolved. Rather than confront science, as Rome was doing with such disastrous effect, the C of E absorbed it. Likewise on social issues. The law of the land and the law of the church tried to keep in step. Thus abortion, divorce, re-marrige, contraception, equality of women, the rights to equality of gays and ethnic minorities became the law of the land and by and large were adopted by the Church.

Unfortunately the evangelical movement began to gain a hold which diverted the old Church of England from both its mission and its constitutional function, to the point where disgaceful quarrels about discriminations which would be illegal outside its walls have been allowed to dominate. If the Church of England is to survive as a coherent element of our national fabric it has to mend its ways fast. Otherwise it will become a non-established minority gradually slipping back into the clutches of Rome, driving out of its congregations all those who believe the greatest gift that God has given them is the power to think for themselves.