Scenario for discussion...

[jjazz]

An openly gay man or woman attends University and qualifies with top honours in theology. (S)he has excellent interpersonal skills and has the ability to connect with and engage audiences large and small. (S)he 'applys' to be a minister of religion. Can the 'powers that be' reject him purely on the basis (s)he is gay? I was under the impression this is illegal in this country. Are the church above these laws? I am not -in any way- wishing to offend anyone. These are genuine questions from someone who cant believe how some factions of the Anglican and Catholic churches are allowed to continue in thie vein.

From what I understand, being gay is acceptable, but it's the sexual acts which the church finds objectionable. If someone was homosexual, but living a chaste life then that would be okay.

When you say 'openly', I take it you mean being fully involved in a gay relationship?

Even hetrosexuals are expected to refrain from sex outside of marriage to their spouse.

ok I guess I mean gay and comitted to one partner- living together shall we say. How are gay sexual acts any more objectionable to a celebate priest than heterosexual ones....?

Catholic married couples are supposed to refrain from sex if they don't want anymore children and can't use NFP for whatever reason. Chastity doesn't just involve a lack of sex, living a chaste life means that your sexuality is given over to God and should glorify Him, rather than to just satisfy your own urges ifyswim.

Because it states in the Bible that homosexual physical acts are a sin. Any type of sex can lead to sinfulness.

S-I-N - with the I in the middle - meaning, anything which puts yourself as the most important thing in the way you live your life. This includes your sexual behaviours.

what is chastity?

to return to my origional question... the church rejects homosexual people but welcomes heterosexuals. This is illegal in all other sections of society... why can the church get away with it?

It rejects people who are not chaste regardless of their sexual orientation.

The issue is that they are not man made rules, but God's rules.

Christians don't tend to follow man made rules. Being a Christian involves a certain rejection of society.

a "minister of religion" in the catholic church would be a priest. priests are not allowed to have sexual relationships of any nature - so they can be gay or straight, they just can't be having sex.

Legally churches have an exemption from the discrimination laws when it comes to the employment of priests. I think the general official view of both CoE and Catholic establishments is that it's OK to be gay so long as you don't have sex (ie it's not OK to be gay). In a Catholic context it's less of a problem as all priests are meant to be celibate (unless they defect from the CoE and are already married, in which case it's fine).