Q: You say you could no longer worship with integrity as a Catholic. Why not?
A (from Coren): I could not remain in a church that effectively excluded gay people. That’s only one of the reasons, but for someone who had taken the Catholic position on same-sex marriage for so long, I’d never been comfortable with that even though I suppose I was regarded as being a stalwart in that position. But I’d moved on, and I felt a hypocrite. I felt a hypocrite being part of a church that described homosexual relations as being disordered and sinful. I just couldn’t be part of it anymore. I could not do that. I couldn’t look people in the eye and make the argument that is still so central to the Catholic Church, that same-sex attraction is acceptable but to act on it is sinful. I felt that the circle of love had to be broadened, not reduced.
“I could not remain in a church that effectively excluded gay people. “
Uhhh....did you check the priesthood?
The Church does not exclude homosexuals. We have homosexuals in my parish. They do not take communion. One is a social Christian and goes because he is expected to go to church.Another is trying very hard to straighten out his life. Perhaps he can’t change his sexual preference but he is working on being celibate. Each of us has our own particular cross to bear. He is facing his and shouldering it. For some it is a predilection for overuse of alcohol.One can face it and deal with it or one can go where alcoholics are appreciated or even celebrated.