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Readers are an integral part of Whosoever. We appreciate hearing from our readers, whether they have praise or hot coals to heap on our heads. With the new year, we're beginning this new feature of a reader forum. Here's some of the things our readers are saying.
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Editor:
Thank God for Nancy Wilson and Bishop Spong
amd now yourself.
--Robert Batten
Editor: Your letter quotes John
3:16 and I assume you believe what it says. "Whosoever" refers not only
to gays but to us heterosexuals as well. We need that hope as well as
you do. Without it we ALL perish. We need to change as much as you do
when we come to Christ. He loves us too much to leave us in our sinful
condition. I am sure that homosexuality is an issue that nobody fully
understands but God. But if God can tell the thief to stop stealing, the
adulterer to stop cheating on his wife, the fornicator to stop using his
body only for his own selfish pleasures, and tell the prostitute to "Go
and sin no more", why would He say it's OK for the homosexuals to
continue in their ways?
"Go and sin no more." Those are tough words spoken by the one who is the
epitome of the love and truth. I do not believe He would say that
without offering us hope to live a holy life. Obviously, those ads will
not stop the person who is gay and happy in that lifestyle. It is meant
to offer hope for those who are gay and are not happy that way. I'm sure
you have met many gays who are miserable in their lifestyle, why would
you be against them getting help by those who have come out of that
lifestyle? Sure it is going to make some gays uncomfortable to read but
for those who need and want help it is a lifesaver. For non gay readers,
I believe it shows them that gays are not reprobate to God because of
what they do, but that they are normal people that can receive the same
kind of hope, help and love from God as we have.
Editor:
I am very upset to see my own bishop, David Coles of Christchurch, New
Zealand, who has turned me down for ordination purely on the grounds
of my sexual orientation then signing this "pastoral statement". It
seems to me that he is not standing up for justice, but merely trying
to defuse the backlash to such blatent violation of human rights.
Editor:
Please keep up the good work that you do. God bless you for what, at
times, must be a time consuming and frustrating job. The message is
getting out and God is using you as His messenger. Thank you so very much
Editor:
Even if some nomadic tribesmen a long time ago didn't like gay people, I hope
that there has been some progress during the past two thousand years of human
development. Morality too must evolve if we are to bring about the Realm of
God on Earth -- which can only happen through the power of love. Thanks again
for providing this much-needed service.
Editor:
Editor:
Anyway, I just want to say that reading some of the articles in
Whosoever has given me the hope that I need to carry on being a
Catholic lesbian. I have also been looking for ages for the passages
in the Bible that are quoted against GLBT people and the response that
is given to them. Finally! I've found that here too!
Thank you for doing all that you're doing. I hope that others like me
or people that are still in the closet will be lead to your site. I
live in a very homophobic country (Malaysia) but have been fortunate
enough to have the support of my friends and the understanding of my
parents. Being Catholic has created a lot of difficulties for me but
I think I'm beginning to work past the obstacles and guilt that I grew
up with and to finally understand and share in God's love. It finally
occurred to me (after browsing your site) that I CAN use the words gay
and Christian in the same sentence when describing myself!
Please continue the good work.
God bless
--Cat
Editor:
I
discovered
it through a circuitous route that went something like this: I was
reading
messages on the United Methodist message board, where there was a
discussion going on about inclusivity/exclusivity. Someone mentioned a
UM
church site in Seattle that in his opinion had some "unbelievable"
links
and suggested readers check it out. Out of curiosity, I did, and one
of
the links was to your magazine. My reaction wasn't quite what he had in
mind, I guess, because rather than being appalled I was impressed. I
appreciate your commentaries and other features, including the prayer
requests (having already prayed for some of the concerns mentioned
there).
As a college professor who recently started working with our United
Campus
Ministry, I'm sometimes challenged by the tensions on our campus.
Evidently members of some other Christian groups on campus delight in
sending "negative" e-mail to gays and lesbians. Last year our group
and
the Catholic group held a "dialogue" session to which the entire
Christian
and gay and lesbian communities were invited; the meeting seemed
productive
but, in the chaplain's words, "tense." Our ministry seeks to respond
differently from most others (for example, recently helping sponsor a
campus-wide forum on sexual orientation) yet some of us still struggle
with
these issues. How do we relate on the one hand to the other Christian
groups who see homosexuality as as sin and on the other to the G/L
group
that doesn't seem to have any particular interest in our ministry? So,
maybe your magazine will help me reflect on these matters and continue
growing in the direction I feel God is leading me, that is, towards an
increasingly "inclusive" outlook.
--Martha Rowe Dolly
Editor:
Gay and happy in Carrollton, GA
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