Church Sexuality Guide Calls for Compassion

Last week's consecration of an openly gay bishop in the US Episcopal Church threatened to break apart the global Anglican Church. Bishops from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and South America expressed strong dissent with the US church's decision. In light of the conflict, the Church of England issued a guide asking for compassion towards homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual people. Calling alternative sexual desires natural, and the obsession with "sexual sin" unnatural, the Church is asking for Christians to embrace all people of faith, regardless of sexual orientation. The guide suggests that the Church still considers heterosexual marriage to be a better expression of "God's intention", but that this does not legitimize homophobia and discrimination. The guide also asks Christians to explore whether the focus on sexuality was preventing them from addressing other forms of sin such as greed, poverty, and wealth inequalities. – YaleGlobal