I don’t think I have ever before posted a criticism of another church or church leader here. But I can’t leave Bishop Devine’s comments on the gay community without comment. I’ve tried to find the full text of what he said but it doesn’t seem to be posted anywhere as yet – so I am relying on reports on the BBC website.
Many things to say – but I come down to this one.
Once you start seeing people and groups who are different from you as a conspiracy, you are at risk of not being able to see them as people and respond to them with openness, love and charity. Once you start to see people and groups who are different from you as a conspiracy, you are at risk of simply seeing them as a threat and being unable to measure, ponder and respond to what they are, what they think and what they say.
I believe that Jesus saw people and loved them as they were. In particular, he responded to people whom others cast out.