Hypocrites!!
Okay, I'm not a Christian, so maybe I'm missing something here, but after all the uproar about Dr Jeffery John, who had to step down from his nomination as the Bishop of Reading (and may face the same with regard to his new post), this newest appointment seems rather hypocritical to me:
First divorced bishop appointed
Shouldn't the Church of England be more concerned by the appointment of a bishop who has divorced than the appointment of a bishop who is gay (and celibate, I might add - how many of us could willingly do that long term?).
When someone gets married in a Christian wedding, they make vows before God. Divorcing means you are breaking these vows ("til death do us part" - remember?). But the Church of England has already said that being gay is not a choice. Someone doesn't just wake up one day and decide to have any particular sexual orientation, whereas the decision to divorce is just that - a decision. A choice.
A bishop is supposed to set an example, I've heard so many of those protesting against the appointment of Dr John argue. Surely on this basis someone who breaks a vow made before God is not fit to be a bishop?
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, but I've never heard of anyone being told they can't be a bishop because they are fat. Why does this latest appointment not bring widespread condemnation, as happened with Dr Jefferey John? How can people be so bigoted and hypocritical, and not see it?
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My other half made an interesting comment or two, which go as follows:
1. Separation is okay according to the Bible, but re-marriage after separation is not.
2. The new bishop's divorce, etc are in the past. He can repent and move on, so it doesn't matter. Dr John can't change. His sexuality is "an ongoing problem", even though he is celibate. Nothing he can do will ever change that, so he can't just "repent and move on".
I probably ought to point out that I don't actually care if the C of E appoint a divorced bishop, or a gay bishop for that matter. I just think that they are being rather bigoted.
Another thing I didn't know about previously is that the new bishop is not only openly divorced, but has remarried too. There are many conflicting views and biblical passages on divorce and remarriage, so I'm not sure whose view is right here. Mostly it seems to be saying that divorce is only okay if the other person has committed adultery, and remarriage is wrong.
Then again, the Bible isn't too clear on homosexuality either.
--
First divorced bishop appointed
Shouldn't the Church of England be more concerned by the appointment of a bishop who has divorced than the appointment of a bishop who is gay (and celibate, I might add - how many of us could willingly do that long term?).
When someone gets married in a Christian wedding, they make vows before God. Divorcing means you are breaking these vows ("til death do us part" - remember?). But the Church of England has already said that being gay is not a choice. Someone doesn't just wake up one day and decide to have any particular sexual orientation, whereas the decision to divorce is just that - a decision. A choice.
A bishop is supposed to set an example, I've heard so many of those protesting against the appointment of Dr John argue. Surely on this basis someone who breaks a vow made before God is not fit to be a bishop?
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, but I've never heard of anyone being told they can't be a bishop because they are fat. Why does this latest appointment not bring widespread condemnation, as happened with Dr Jefferey John? How can people be so bigoted and hypocritical, and not see it?
-- --
My other half made an interesting comment or two, which go as follows:
1. Separation is okay according to the Bible, but re-marriage after separation is not.
2. The new bishop's divorce, etc are in the past. He can repent and move on, so it doesn't matter. Dr John can't change. His sexuality is "an ongoing problem", even though he is celibate. Nothing he can do will ever change that, so he can't just "repent and move on".
I probably ought to point out that I don't actually care if the C of E appoint a divorced bishop, or a gay bishop for that matter. I just think that they are being rather bigoted.
Another thing I didn't know about previously is that the new bishop is not only openly divorced, but has remarried too. There are many conflicting views and biblical passages on divorce and remarriage, so I'm not sure whose view is right here. Mostly it seems to be saying that divorce is only okay if the other person has committed adultery, and remarriage is wrong.
Then again, the Bible isn't too clear on homosexuality either.
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