The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 10)

p> Thomas Lipscomb's essay on the plight of the American Episcopal Church caused me to think back on the time when it was struggling so hard to become "relevant." I was a high school sophomore, and Richard Nixon was president. The 1928 version of the Book of Common Prayer had been replaced. It took only one service using this abomination for my father to decide that we would not be returning. My specific memory is of "passing the peace." Passing a kidney stone would have been less painful. Actually, my parents and I wound up passing bewildered looks and sheepish grins. This exercise was sheer idiocy and self-indulgence on the part of the church hierarchy. The church's current problems are of its own making. br> -- Evelyn Leinbach br> Colorado /p>

While it is something to have so many "leaders" of the church up in arms over the consecration of an openly gay bishop, let's not get carried away, okay?

First off, those American "leaders" protesting are certainly disingenuous, at least. As I did, each of the ordained "protesters" attended seminary, where they undoubtedly had gay classmates. Then they went to serve in diocese and parishes where they undoubtedly encountered gay colleagues in parishes, on vestries, committees, and commissions. What a surprise!

Now they get their unders in a twist when an openly gay man -- and in a long-term, committed relationship -- is consecrated? Give me a break!!

I would guess that all of those 'leaders" KNOW there are at least TWO gay bishops in the church now. Granted, both are retired, nevertheless they are bishops! One came out after retirement and the other has never come out, even though he has held some prestigious positions in the national church and is pretty uniformly respected by all.

Sounds like a lot of hypocrisy to me. How about to you?

If these "leaders" are so determined about this issue, then there are some other issues that need to be addressed with equal energy:

p>-How about alcoholic priests and bishops? br> -How about priests and bishops who are sexually promiscuous with opposite sex parties? br> -How about priests and bishops who are divorced and remarried -- I think that is one pretty clear statement of Jesus, isn't it? br> -How about priests and bishops who have been known to dip into church funds for their own use?

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