Same-sex marriage too hot for clergy?

Same-sex marriage too hot for clergy?

The current confusion over same sex marriage continues in our society because the church has decided the issue is too hot to handle. Pastors will pontificate on well-accepted ideas that gain favor, aka, preaching to the choir.

They will curry favor from the pulpit to gain members, increase budgets and manage successful churches. But where today is the prophetic word from any Christian tradition, Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox, instructing the church on this risky issue?

Catholics obviously have red faces over their pedophilia problem and such priests no doubt feel comfortable being silent. I get that. Protestants typically take less clear stances on issues Catholics weigh in on — like abortion. Can anyone tell me the Protestant position on abortion? So maybe I’m asking too much of a Protestant pastor to address same-sex marriage.

You can barely get a Protestant pastor to say “divorce” from a pulpit today. So no Christian pastor should fault Congress or the media for what she or he isn’t doing from their pulpit.

It would be just be nice to hear a pastor today be public, even if misguided on some aspects, and possess the courage to preach a sermon series on this current cultural issue which has many voices with open mouths serving only to remove all doubt as to their ignorance on commitment in relationship, fidelity, marriage, children and creation.

Paul O. Bischoff

Wheaton