Peter Ould is a Priest in the Church of England. He lived as a gay man but left that lifestyle during his development as a Christian.
His blog maintains well informed and gracious discussion of human sexuality from a Biblical point of view. He does an amazing job of defending that point of view while also confronting and refuting stereotypes and uncharitable positions used against LGBT people. (I think they should have used Peter to lead the so called "Windsor Process" for the Anglican Communion, but that train's already off the tracks).
So, what is Peter's reward for his challenging, sacrificial and loving witness to Christ?
He gets compared to Adolf Hitler by a "liberal Christian."
It is so easy to see conservative hypocrisy. Gov. Sanford, anyone? It is true that one can put on conservative politics or religion to compensate for some festering moral problem.
But self-proclaimed "liberals" too often get a pass on their unexamined problems. In seminary, I was amazed at how some of the "peace and justice" types were among the angriest, most miserable and even dysfunctional people around. I've encountered at least two "radical Christian communities" that were essentially enabling families run by raging alcoholic matriarchs and patriarchs.
Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye. Jesus (Luke 6:41-42)
1 comment:
This in the comments (hopefully he'll get a clue and remove it, as this is indirect incitement to violence; and coming from a "religious authority"):
poppy tupper said...
David, I just want to say - Perpetua, David Heron, head, brick wall.
've visited Peter Ould's site in the past with its hearty righ-wing ideology in both church and state matters. I smile at the way he dangles his baby over the cyber-balcony - 'look at me, I can make babies after all. I'm straight'. I shudder at his bad-boy attempts to be acceptable to the evangelicals. Rather too shrill to be true, I always think.
Just imagine I'm the woman in the pub pulling your arm and saying, 'leave him, David. He's not worth it,' before you drag him out to the car park and kick the shit out of him.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Father David Heron said...
Poppy: The most sensible comment I've read in a long time.
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