This is deeply disturbing. For those of you who don't know, Changing Attitude is an Anglican LGBT international advocacy group. It is supported by many Anglican bishops and hierarchs, both in the U.S. and abroad. Read an AAC article about CA's positions re: sex, here. Read Changing Attitude's "Sexual Ethics: A Report of the Lesbian and Gay Clergy Consultation Working Group" here (careful, its a PDF file).
Here are some excerpts from the Changing Attitude document:
Then Changing Attitude interprets the Gospel's call to "forsake all" to be a call, in some instances, to forsake one's partner or spouse:
I have often asked: if you jettison one of the circumscriptions of sacramental sex, namely that it be within the context of the gender difference that Christ says was instituted by God himself at the beginning of the World (cf. Matt. 19.4-5), then what's to stop you jettisoning other circumscriptions like monogamy or lifelong fidelity, or prohibitions on consanguinity, etc. etc.? I wonder what kind of "growth" and "creativity" will come next for Anglicanism's progressives.
As disturbing as this is, nevertheless its good to see this degree of honesty. Christ, they seem to think, is incapable of delivering those whom he loves from their "genetic predispositions and developmental damage." The kind of life they advocate seems hopeless to me. Still, this is helpful. I call on Changing Attitude and other advocacy groups on the "other side" to be even more vocal and up-front about the ways in which they are working to change the attitudes and lives of Christians.
Here are some excerpts from the Changing Attitude document:
This ideal [of monogamy and faithfulness in relationships] is in tension with our common inheritance of genetic predispositions and developmental damage that compromise our capacity for relating, and often make serial commitments, and serial faithfulness, a more realistic aspiration.
Then Changing Attitude interprets the Gospel's call to "forsake all" to be a call, in some instances, to forsake one's partner or spouse:
Here we encounter the ethical value of personal growth and creativity, the commitment to risk change in allowing one’s personal identity to expand and develop. This can lead to relational failure or conflict, where one partner grows beyond the capacity of the relationship to sustain further intimacy and growth.
....to leave a failing relationship can be a creative move towards allowing oneself to discover in another relationship new experiences and a new phase of growth …
...it is important to remain open to the possiblity [sic] that brief and loving sexual engagement between mature adults in special circumstances can be occasions of grace...
The exploration of our sexual selves can be something which benefits from involvement with more than one person.
I have often asked: if you jettison one of the circumscriptions of sacramental sex, namely that it be within the context of the gender difference that Christ says was instituted by God himself at the beginning of the World (cf. Matt. 19.4-5), then what's to stop you jettisoning other circumscriptions like monogamy or lifelong fidelity, or prohibitions on consanguinity, etc. etc.? I wonder what kind of "growth" and "creativity" will come next for Anglicanism's progressives.
As disturbing as this is, nevertheless its good to see this degree of honesty. Christ, they seem to think, is incapable of delivering those whom he loves from their "genetic predispositions and developmental damage." The kind of life they advocate seems hopeless to me. Still, this is helpful. I call on Changing Attitude and other advocacy groups on the "other side" to be even more vocal and up-front about the ways in which they are working to change the attitudes and lives of Christians.
1 comment:
Here, here Fr. It would indeed be tres helpful for those who have long left the Church to be very very clear and honest about the implications of their creativity and growth, etc etc... good for them!
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