Not literally, but you get the idea. Presbyterian Church USA held a vote on May 10th to decide whether or not to permit active homosexuals to become ministers in their church. As was anticipated, a majority of presbyters cast their vote in favor of letting homosexuals join the rank of ministers. Not only that, but the church also eliminated the requirement that unmarried leaders live chastely.
So much for the Bible’s condemnation of fornication and sodomy.
From the Catholic News Agency:
“The Presbyterian Church USA has voted to remove clergy requirements of marital fidelity or single chastity, thus allowing the ordination of ministers and lay leaders who are openly homosexual or living in unmarried relationships.
“This is a lonely day for Presbyterians who believe what the Bible and the Church have consistently taught: that God’s will is that we be faithful in marriage or chaste in singleness. Now we belong to a denomination that is no longer sure it believes that teaching,” said Allan Wisdom, a director of Presbyterian Action at the ecumenical D.C.-based Institution on Religion & Democracy.
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An amendment to the Presbyterian constitution was ratified on May 10 by a majority of the church’s 173 regional organizations known as presbyteries, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Since 1997 the church’s constitution required those seeking ordination to be living “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.” Now the constitution only requires church officials to examine “each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation and suitability for the responsibilities of office.”
Regional church bodies will still be able to decide whether or not to ordain open homosexuals. However, some presbyteries have already ordained homosexual clergy and lay leaders without approval.
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He said he feared the vote would be “divisive for our denomination, which has, for the past 50-plus years, been losing membership.””
To any Presbyterians who might be unhappy with this decision: the Catholic Church is always ready to welcome you!
Tags: News and Media, Protestant
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Doesn’t the Roman Catholic Church have homosexual priests?
Here is the Church’s teaching on homosexuality: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm#2357
While there may be priests with homosexual desires right now, they are obliged to chastity (as we all are). If they are actually engaging in homosexual acts, they are doing so covertly and being caught would be grounds for disciplinary action. Also, several years ago the Church’s policy is to bar men with homosexual inclinations from entering the priesthood.
As a former ELCA Lutheran, I saw this coming. Since we had shared communion both with the Episcopalians and the PCUSA, it was only a matter of time before the PCUSA caved. It’s a sad case of progressives getting an increased share in a diminishing market.
Scott W hit on most of it. The point is that now leaders of PCUSA can be living in a un-chaste relationship publicly. That is what has changed. That is forbidden in the Catholic – it is much different.