Episcopal Priest Claims 'Being Gay is Gift from God'

The Rev. Canon J. Edwin Bacon Jr. from Southern California has made it no secret that he supports gays and lesbians and same-sex marriage. But his recent pro-gay comments on the Oprah Winfrey show have stunned even the popular talk show host herself.

Appearing shocked, Winfrey responded, "Well, you are the first minister I’ve ever heard say, 'Being gay is a gift from God,' I can tell you that."

Bacon's controversial statement sparked a fiery debate on Winfrey's website, leading the talk show host to invite the Episcopal priest back to elaborate on what he meant.

"I meant exactly what I said," Bacon, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, told Winfrey via video a few days later. "It is so important for every human being to understand that he or she is a gift from God, and particularly people who are marginalized and victimized in our culture. Gay and lesbian people are clearly outcasts in many areas of our life and it's so important for them to understand that when God made them, God said you are good. That is a gift, that is a blessing, that is the original blessing with which every one of us is made by God and loved by God."

One commenter on Oprah.com's message board responded: "I was appalled by the pastor's remark ... how many people did this man of the cloth lead down the wrong road with his comment?"

Another commenter praised Bacon and said it was "freeing" to hear Bacon's statement.

And yet another said: "Though I agree that being gay is not a gift from God, but rather a sexual preference and thus a choice, I also believe in love and acceptance of all, no matter what."

The Episcopal priest has repeatedly proclaimed a message of inclusiveness. In a controversial move last year, Bacon opened his church to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples a week after the California Supreme Court had legalized homosexual marriage in May.

After stirring more controversy on Winfrey's show this month, Bacon has been flooded with calls and emails, some with positive words and some with critical remarks.

Labeling himself as "biblically oriented," Bacon claimed he's going down the road of Jesus, showing compassion and being inclusive, and not the road of condemnation and judgment.

Warren Throckmorton, associate professor of Psychology and director of the College Counseling Service at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, doesn't believe Bacon's comments help in the ongoing debate over the Bible and homosexuality.

"Traditional Christianity teaches that all people are valued by God as bearers of His image," he commented to The Christian Post. "However, moral questions surrounding sexual behavior are matters of great dispute among Christians. Rev. Bacon is less than helpful when he condemns those who disagree with him."

Bacon's comments aired during the third episode of Winfrey’s special series, "Best Life Week."

So which sins did Jesus tell us to tolerate?

Did he tell Mary Magdalene that prostitution was okay, that Jews needed to be more inclusive?

Or what about the woman accused of adultery -- Did Jesus say, "Now go and sin some more."

What about living a drunken and licentious life like the Prodigal Son?

How about the rich young man who was too attached to his material goods?

Which commandments did Jesus amend?

The problem with idiots like this is they intentionally twist Christ teaching of compassion and mercy for the sinner as tolerance of the sinful conduct. Really, all they want is to continue an objectively sinful lifestyle. Tolerance is Satan's favorite tool. I can hear him now -- Hey, Christian, don't judge me ... don't judge me. I'm not. I'm judging the action as objectively disordered and sinful. Only God can judge you personally because only he knows your heart. But a sinful act is still a sinful act.

Idiots, idiots who are leading innocents down the path of destruction.

When the family is destroyed, what then will we build our society upon?

To clearly understand the depths of depravity and apostasy involved in the lie from the unrepentant homo-nazi who has driven a wedge in the heart of his faith, one book in the Holy Bible says it all. He has clearly been given over to a depraved mind. The mind that alters, alters all. “ 1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2: (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4: And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9: For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
10: Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
11: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12: That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13: Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14: I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15: So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

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