NPR Talk of the Nation - Feb. 27

[Pablo Rafael]

I know this is short notice. Listening to NPR (National Public Radio) this morning I hear that they have today's discussion on "Religion and Homosexuality". I thought some of you might be interested in calling in. It seems like a topic just right for this group.

Talk of the Nation is on live at 12:00 noon (mountain time, adjust accordingly). I don't usually get to hear it because I am at work (and only have a 20 minute lunch break.)

I will try to catch a little of it and maybe listen to it online later to see what the discussion was about.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Emproph]

The Episcopal Church and the Rift over Homosexuality
(And yes this is the "Religion and Homosexuality" program)

Some interesting stuff here (I had to buy the transcript). A few clips of note below, though not necessarily directly related to the homosexuality issue:

Right Reverend Catherine Roskam. She’s the bishop suffragan of the diocese of New York. She participated in the consecration of Gene Robinson. She also represents the Episcopal Church on the Anglican Consultative Counsel.

Rt. Rev. ROSKAM: One of the concerns is in fact that perhaps this is really about patriarchy and clericalism. That, you know – in the churches in the United States - and it’s also true in the churches throughout the Anglican communion that at least – that at least conservatively 60 percent of that 77 million are women and yet we’re represented by only three percent in the councils of the communion.

If we were represented anywhere close to the our percentage in the communion, we would not be talking about division.

~~~

Rt. Rev. ROSKAM: I think the issue here is not simply theological and scriptural, but I do think there’s a political aspect to it. And there are conservatives and liberals who sit at the same table at the House of Bishops and we talk about scripture, and we may not agree with scripture but we both understand that our Anglican tradition allows for this kind of dialogue.

And then there’s some ultra conservatives that I tend to call dissidents who say our way or the highway. And that’s the part of it that both many conservatives as well as liberals say is really not a part of our tradition that has always depended on scripture, but also filtered through both reason and tradition of the church.

CONAN (Interviewer): And what’s the origin of the ultra conservatism, as you call it?

Rt. Rev. ROSKAM: Well I think it’s very difficult because it’s where – this is just me talking, but I think it must have been very difficult that the ultra conservatives could not get a foothold in the power structure of our own church and felt it was necessary to go elsewhere in order to stir things up and to get the kind of foothold that they wanted. And I think that’s unfortunate. I think it’s proven that agenda, that strategy has proven very destructive. And, you know, I don’t think it’s what God had in mind, no matter what we think on any issue.

~~~

MICHAEL (Caller): Good afternoon. I was hoping someone there could explain to me, if part of it’s a matter of scriptural interpretation, why is it all right for the Africans – the African diocese and churches that so many of the Episcopalians are going over to for pastoral care – why is it all right for them to allow practicing polygamists become part of the church – body of Christ? Why is polygamy evidently scriptural where homosexuality isn’t?

Rt. Rev. ROSKAM: That’s very interesting. At Lambeth Conference in 1988, the bishops passed a resolution allowing polygamy, and that men who had multiple wives could be received into the church. They were permitted to keep their wives, in part it said for their – I don’t remember the exact phrase, but really for the safety and concern for the women. But it also stated, which I thought was really interesting, that if a woman dies, one of their wives dies, they may marry again.

CONAN (Interviewer): So this was not merely a grandfathering, if you will – if that’s the right word – but perpetuating the practice.

Rt. Rev. ROSKAM: Right. Right. It does indeed.

~~~

MICHAEL (Caller): Why is one scriptural and the other isn’t?

Rt. Rev. ROSKAM: Well, I have to say that I think you brought up a very important point. Really, you know, the Bible is not simply a book. It is a library. It is the history of God’s action with God’s people. It is many, many voices and in dialogue about many things, and that it’s very easy to come up – to proof text is the term for it – to come up with scriptural sentences that will support any point of view. So I think your point is well taken and I think that we need to look at scripture as a hole. I think for us as Christians we really have to take a close look at the gospels for our direction.

[dsdrane]

Wow!

And...whoa!

I had no clue. Thank God for Caller Michael!

[Daniel]

Thanks Patrick......enlightening....it say the least!

[andrewlittle]

So now we have approval for selective poly-amorosity - only that kind that includes one man and many women? Could we split the hairs a little finer?

What does this do for the argument by right-wingers that, if we allow same-sex marriage, the next thing you know we'll be allowing polygamous marriages. Hello!

IT SEEMS WE SKIPPED A STEP IN THE PROCESS. Doesn't it?

[Emproph]

And the sad truth is that they’d probably overlook a provision condoning bestiality just to maintain their anti-gay stance.

[dsdrane]

...you mean like the guy who was forced to marry his goat??

[andrewlittle]

Originally Posted by dsdrane

...you mean like the guy who was forced to marry his goat??

I can't find the original story, but I'm pretty sure it was his neighbors goat. He even had to pay a "dowry" after - well, you know.

[BruceChris]

Was it a male goat?

P&L, BC