ecumenism" "
Church and homosexuality: the issue is being hotly debated not only in the Anglican world where the archbishop of Canterbury has set up an international Commission to study the question, but also in France, where the Lutheran and Reformed Church has published a dossier on the question. It contains the reflections that emerged at the end of a long debate: a document had been distributed in all local churches in 2002 also available for consultation on the internet , on the basis of which a wide-ranging discussion was begun involving parish councils, bible groups, and local congregations. The responses explains a communiqué express “very different positions” but do reach essential agreement on three questions. First, the welcome of homosexuals within local communities: Reformed and Lutherans stress that this welcome must be “unconditional” and they add: “it’s not for us to judge who forms part of the people of God”. With regard to the presence of “homosexual ministers”, on the other hand, the churches adopt a more cautious position, affirming that “as things stand today, it seems that the homosexuality of a minister is an obstacle”, especially for the “local Church”. The same prudence is expressed in terms of the blessing of gay couples: “it is not appropriate says the communiqué to establish a rite of blessing that would risk causing confusion between homosexual and heterosexual couples.
