From the Bishop’s charge, Diocese of Montreal, Synod 2008
With the benefit of scientific and medical knowledge we know sexual orientation is a given and a gift from God in the lives of all people. Our challenge is to determine how all persons may rejoice in and celebrate this God-given gift so that it honours our Creator and gives dignity to all. I believe our dealing with the issues of human sexuality is fundamentally a pastoral matter. How is God calling us to proclaim gospel, the good news of Jesus, to those whose sexual orientation has resulted in their marginalization and has often made them victims in their communities, families, and churches?
[.....]
It is therefore my intention to place before the Canadian House of Bishops, next week, my prayerful hope regarding the issue of “blessings.” It is important that I honour the collegiality of the Canadian House of Bishops. I intend to discuss my plan which includes making the following statement: “That, we begin to explore the blessing of duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-sex couples, where at least one party is baptised”. Shortly after the meeting of the House of Bishops, I will establish a commission with the responsibility of drafting for me an appropriate rite for this blessing and guidelines for implementation. In this process, I am committed to an open dialogue, and to this end, I will provide opportunities on a formal basis for listening, dialogue and further discernment. Notwithstanding, we will also be working alongside the Faith, Worship and Ministry committee of our Anglican Church of Canada, charged by General Synod to develop a process to engage dioceses and parishes in study of the Christian perspective on human sexuality in light of scripture, reason, tradition and current scientific understanding. Let me make it absolutely clear that in this process, no cleric and no congregation will be required to participate in any future blessing of same-sex civil marriages.
“With the benefit of scientific and medical knowledge we know sexual orientation is a given and a gift from God in the lives of all people.”
Er . . . *science* tells us this? Really?
All I can say is that it makes me truly sad to see just how deceived some who call themselves Christian leaders have become. To state what is said in this article is quite offensive and indeed blasphemous: “Our challenge is to determine how all persons may rejoice in and celebrate this God-given gift so that it honours our Creator and gives dignity to all.”
This “gift” is not God-given. It’s satanic. To “honour” our creator by celebrating this satanic “gift” of sexual orientation that does not align with Scripture is to blaspheme God. It will be such a shock to these folks when they wake up after the resurrection and discover how deceived they’ve been. I can only pray that they will, at that time, come to repent of their wrongful way of life and be given mercy by God.
In His mercy,
Marg
Marg: I’m in full agreement with you that aberrant sexual desires are not a gift from God but a distortion of God’s perfect creation. But I hope you aren’t condemning people just because they are being tempted this way? We all suffer temptation of one sort or another. Even our Lord suffered temptation and yet without sin. The accuser of the brethren loves for us to feel condemned, even when we are resisting evil, adding false guilt to the already heavy burden of living in this weak flesh.
We should help each other recognize sin. We should help each other resist it in the power of Lord; And, when we have fallen, we should encourage each other to repent and be clean again. This is the Christian way.
My studies over the years have led me to believe that, scientically, there is no proof that sexual orientation is “a given”; and that, medically, same sex activity is hazardous to health and a life shortening behavior. I guess some of our bishops read different science and/or medical journals than I do. Scriptually, same sex activity is abhored by God. There is too much evidence that sexual ‘orientation’ can change to be even considered as “God given.” Heaven help our church!
I am with Ross #4. The bishop speaks with authority about something he clearly knows very little about. Science has certainly not made any such definitive pronouncement. This is like so many other things spoken authoritatively in our day – nothing more than a modern myth.
M-O-R-A-T-O-R-I-U-M Do I have to spell it out?
So much has been accomplished in the scientific world – cloning, transplants – DNA etc etc. If sexual preference was part of our DNA, and science could prove it, it would be on every news show, written in every science schoolbook, the talk of every talk show. The fact that it has not been proven by science is evident by the lack of facts presented. Liberals are quick to say that “science proves..” But where is the proof, where are the scientists prepared to stand by their so called studies? if they are out there, I haven’t seen or heard from them.
The diocese has already made its decision, please don’t try to muddy the water with facts.
Doesn’t sound like a negative view from the HoB would stop them either (though likely anything from there would be nuanced to death anyway).
#5, Irena, it’s mainly the “leaders” of the church that I was directing my comments to. They profess to be Christian; and CALL themselves Christian, however, they are far from it. What they teach is satanic delusion due to deception by satan. It’s very harmful to those who are suffering from strong temptations to do what they are trying to state is approved and a “gift” from God. That is my main message.
God clearly states in His Word how he looks at homosexual activity. He considers it to be an “abomination”. I, for one, am not going to question the validity of that statement. God is the author of TRUTH, and never contradicts himself, or tells falsehoods. God is not the author of confusion; but SATAN IS!!!!! It’s satan who is writing all these confusing lies on the minds of the leaders who are accepting this nonsense. To look at the lies that satan promotes as a “gift” from God is more than a little blasphemous. That’s what I was trying to say. I hope this clears it up for you.
Science will never prove anything adverse to God’s truth. Human flesh has been steadily reducing in quality for 6000 years. Many mutations have occurred. Many conditions have evolved and many other imperfections have evolved. Adam and Eve were created perfect. However, due to the sinful nature of man, it is man who has reduced the level of man to the terrible state it’s in today. We’ve done it to ourselves through our sinful practices: poor eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, undue stresses, chemical abuses, to name a few. Science will show how wounded and imperfect the human body has become due to our own sinful ways. It will NEVER prove that God gave disgusting and wrongful sexual practices as a “gift” to man. Man chose to do those things due to his own free will.
Steve, short of a miracle coming out of the HoB, I believe the next few weeks will make clear that the notion of a moratorium is truly dead.
My expectation? Ottawa and Montreal will proceed as planned and begin blessing same sex unions before the year is out (at least for sure in Ottawa’s case). Followed quickly by Niagara and the others. Then the flood of orthodox churches who had been “waiting to see”, will begin the rush for re-alignment with ANIC. 2009 will be a year of tremendous growth for ANIC. A blessing born out of tragedy.
I can’t remember where I read it (maybe even on this very blog), but I think Bishop Chapman has said that he wants to give permission for one parish in Ottawa to do same sex “marriages”.
Kate, that was yesterday
#9 Marg: I thought that was the case but wanted to make sure no one was confused by your post in #2, being easily confused myself!
I am with you one hundred percent when you fear for the eternal state of these bishops who jeopardize the souls of the tender ones. On the Day of the Lord, I wouldn’t want to be under the mitres of Montreal, Ottawa, Niagara and New Westminster for anything. Unless of course they repent.
The intentions of +Ottawa and +Montreal are a sad rendition of the state of the episcopate in today’s ACoC. They have succumbed to the politically and media driven falsehood that such scientific evidence actually exists. Then, instead of being purveyors of the Holy Word of God, they have chosen to follow the world like little mindless puppets of Satan.
It is a sad commentary on the secularization of the ACoC episcopate as its walks away from Godliness and becomes more and more the “blind guides” to which Jesus referred. The sad thing is that, in their walk to eternal destruction, they are taking with them those who might otherwise be saved from such sinful lifestyles and those others who simply blindly follow them because they are holders of what should be a venerable position.
Our prayers need to go out to Almighty God for all three groupings!
#12 Yesterday was a Long Day.
It seems that St. Stephen’s attempted to introduce a motion to adhere to the moratorium on SSBs.
The motion was greeted by laughter and comments about ‘hate-mongering’. Needless to say, the motion didn’t get far.
#16 Which St. Stephen’s where?
Noli [17],
Here: http://www.ststephens.qc.ca/
This is an example or yet another group of heathens pretending to be Christians. They are putting their groins ahead of their souls. They are denying Christ, and His teachings. That’s too bad for them. Those who deny Jesus in this world, shall be denied by Jesus in His. The clergy who studied at, and graduated from, Seminary should at least know that much.