New US church leader says homosexuality no sin

[DaKCMan AP]

New US church leader says homosexuality no sin

Mon Jun 19, 3:50 PM ET


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Newly elected leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said on Monday she believed homosexuality was no sin and homosexuals were created by God to love people of the same gender.


Jefferts Schori, bishop of the Diocese of Nevada, was elected on Sunday as the first woman leader of the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church. the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. She will formally take office later this year.

Interviewed on CNN, Jefferts Schori was asked if it was a sin to be homosexual.

"I don't believe so. I believe that God creates us with different gifts. Each one of us comes into this world with a different collection of things that challenge us and things that give us joy and allow us to bless the world around us," she said.

"Some people come into this world with affections ordered toward other people of the same gender and some people come into this world with affections directed at people of the other gender."

Jefferts Schori's election seemed certain to exacerbate splits within a Episcopal Church that is already deeply divided over homosexuality with several dioceses and parishes threatening to break away.

It could also widen divisions with other Anglican communities, including the Church of England, which do not allow women bishops. In the worldwide Anglican church women are bishops only in Canada, the United States and New Zealand.

Three years ago when the Church last met in convention, a majority of U.S. bishops backed the consecration of Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay bishop in more than 450 years of Anglican history.

The Robinson issue has been particularly criticized in Africa where the church has a growing membership and where homosexuality is often taboo.

Jefferts Schori, who was raised a Roman Catholic and graduated in marine biology with a doctorate specialization in squids and oysters, supported the consecration of Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay bishop in more than 450 years of Anglican history.

The 52-year-old bishop is married to Richard Schori, a retired theoretical mathematician. They have one daughter, Katharine Johanna, 24, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and a pilot like her mother.

Asked how she reconciled her position on homosexuality with specific passages in the Bible declaring sexual relations between men an abomination, Jefferts Schori said the Bible was written in a very different historical context by people asking different questions.

"The Bible has a great deal to teach us about how to live as human beings. The Bible does not have so much to teach us about what sorts of food to eat, what sorts of clothes to wear -- there are rules in the Bible about those that we don't observe today," she said.

"The Bible tells us about how to treat other human beings, and that's certainly the great message of Jesus -- to include the unincluded."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060619/...HBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

[Jilly]

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

Who do you say Jesus is?

I think the more important question is who did he say he was? And what were his actions while on earth? And what did he ask of us?

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

Who do you say Jesus is?

Why ask her? To quote Chris Farley, she doesn't know Jack SQUAT.....apparently.

[Jilly]

Originally Posted by Jesus

Research the Hebrew context of turn-the-other-cheek; it is an instruction that one should turn the other cheek so as to prepare to defend yourself against the unjust agression of others.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of the twisted understanding some of you folks have of what I said. Sheeesh.

Umm, Jesus, if you believed in violence so much, how come you never raised a hand to anyone around you? And how come you asked us to follow you and take up our own crosses and deny ourselves??? And how, I'm just really unclear, am I to love my enemies if I am killing them??

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by TitsMagee

I think the more important question is who did he say he was? And what were his actions while on earth? And what did he ask of us?

Anyone else find it ironic that she questions others for their literal interpretaion of the Word, yet trusts that I was not misquoted? LOL

[redbrian]

Originally Posted by TitsMagee

I don't know until you give me book, chapter, and verse where you find that.... I am serious, though, did Jesus EVER say - if someone tries to kill you, you should kill them first? And more importantly, if we are to follow in Jesus' footsteps, when did he ever practice that mentality??

If you get killed first it's a little to late to return the favor, know what I mean Vern.

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by TitsMagee

Umm, Jesus, if you believed in violence so much, how come you never raised a hand to anyone around you? And how come you asked us to follow you and take up our own crosses and deny ourselves??? And how, I'm just really unclear, am I to love my enemies if I am killing them??

You forgot that whole Temple scene, did you? Besides, you think censors are bad today---think about 2000 years. The Orthodox pressure on the Romans to make literature "family friendly" cleaned up a lot of the stuff.....

[Jilly]

Originally Posted by redbrian

If you get killed first it's a little to late to return the favor, know what I mean Vern.

oy vay....

[Sully]

Originally Posted by TitsMagee

Umm, Jesus, if you believed in violence so much, how come you never raised a hand to anyone around you? And how come you asked us to follow you and take up our own crosses and deny ourselves??? And how, I'm just really unclear, am I to love my enemies if I am killing them??

And why, when you knew you were going to be killed, did you not defend yourself, rather than allow your own capture and torture?

[Jilly]

Originally Posted by Jesus

You forgot that whole Temple scene, did you? Besides, you think censors are bad today---think about 2000 years. The Orthodox pressure on the Romans to make literature "family friendly" cleaned up a lot of the stuff.....

he killed someone in that scene? I must have missed that part.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by TitsMagee

when did Jesus say if someone tries to kill you, you should kill them first???

From the bible, "As much as it is possible, live at peace with everyone."

Read the verse very closely.

Sometimes, it is IMPOSSIBLE, e.g. when Islamo fascists state that I shall bow down and convert to Islam or die.

It is my opinion, that it is IMPOSSIBLE to ever change the hearts and minds of Islamo fascists, who seek to slaughter me, my family, as though they were the meat birds that I cut heads off of two weeks ago.

AAAAAAAAAAH, thanks for playing, there are some nice parting gifts for you on the way out.

I profess to be a "Christian", saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, as payment in full for ALL of my sins. I do not profess to be perfect, although I try real hard.

So, If you are also a Christian, it is going to be nice spending eternity with you. heehe. We one in the bond of LOVE, we are one in the bond of love, we have joined our spirits with the spirit of God, we are one in the bond of love.

I leave you with this, If you claim to have the light in you, but do not love your brother, then you have made Him out to be a liar and the Truth is not in you.

Perhaps, we should all step back a moment, and think a little before we start spewing so much venom into the seemingly innoucuous void that is the internet?

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Jesus

Anyone else find it ironic that she questions others for their literal interpretaion of the Word, yet trusts that I was not misquoted? LOL

I think, aside from quotes, the balance of what he did is fairly clear.
Are you claiming, K, that they just decided to leave all of his violent acts out, in a book filled with very graphic violence?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

BS you supported a run and snitch policy in school.

How do you feel about gun legislation?

A school is an area that should be a safe haven for children. It is a public good, and as a public good, they should feel safe. If someone is threatening them, they should let adults know about it, lest another Columbine happen.

Let me tell you a little story about "Running and Snitching"...my junior year of high school, a kid brought a pipe bomb into school. It was a track baton stuffed with mostly blackpowder explosives. He intended to detonate it, but didn't have a fuse for it. One kid found out about it, and went and "snitched" to the administration. Pipe Bomb guy was expelled, and possibly dozens of lives were saved by this "cowardly act".

Until something like that happens to you, I suggest you STFD and .

Of course, I'm sure that you are also aware that if you own a gun, you are more likely to be killed than if you don't, which makes your safety argument moot.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

OK, you choose to die in glory then. Me, I'll choose to try and live with a good defense. Hell even my girl takes some martial arts and lifts weights and shoots guns. It's actually a lot of fun.

So do you own a gun or not?

It's not about "dying in glory."
It's about not using violence as a tool, or worse, the only tool.

[Jilly]

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

From the bible, "As much as it is possible, live at peace with everyone."

Read the verse very closely.

Sometimes, it is IMPOSSIBLE, e.g. when Islamo fascists state that I shall bow down and convert to Islam or die.

It is my opinion, that it is IMPOSSIBLE to ever change the hearts and minds of Islamo fascists, who seek to slaughter me, my family, as though they were the meat birds that I cut heads off of two weeks ago.

AAAAAAAAAAH, thanks for playing, there are some nice parting gifts for you on the way out.

I profess to be a "Christian", saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, as payment in full for ALL of my sins. I do not profess to be perfect, although I try real hard.

So, If you are also a Christian, it is going to be nice spending eternity with you. heehe. We one in the bond of LOVE, we are one in the bond of love, we have joined our spirits with the spirit of God, we are one in the bond of love.

I leave you with this, If you claim to have the light in you, bo do not love your brother, then you have made him out to be a liar and the truth is not in you.

Perhaps, we should all step back a moment, and think a little before we start spewing so much venom into the seemingly innoucuous void that is the internet?

Geez, I really thought I was being fairly nice. I love everyone, I really do, even if we disagree....but you know what I don't love? clowns. I hope Jesus will forgive me.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I [and you as well] didn't just say 'hate.' I said 'clouded by hate.'
Clear skies here, spittlespark.

And the quote I provided wasn't about your analysis, it was about your recollection of your stance re: giving stuff to people who look like they need it. You said my understanding clouded my analysis of your stances, and all I had to do was quote you to establish my clarity.

Now you're reduced to arguing semantics to avoid the inevitable plunge off the cliff of sanity...