The Church of Ireland should strenuously avoid any conflict with same-sex attracted people

A letter from Dr James Hardy:
By Letters
Published 2nd Oct 2021, 12:17 BST
Updated 2nd Oct 2021, 13:55 BST
Same-sex attracted people have never attacked my evangelical faith, writes Dr HardySame-sex attracted people have never attacked my evangelical faith, writes Dr Hardy
Same-sex attracted people have never attacked my evangelical faith, writes Dr Hardy

Dermot O’Callaghan thinks disagreement on GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) controversies may damage the Church of Ireland (‘Veteran synod member fears for Church of Ireland’s future as annual congress draws near,’ September 29, see link below).

I was ordained as an evangelist by Bishop Harold Miller in 2017 and share Dermot O’Callaghan’s alarm.

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CS Lewis directed us to an imaginary tutorial, where a junior demon is instructed on driving people from God: ‘Tortured fear and stupid confidence are both desirable frames of mind’.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

The Anglican church has been in a state of ’tortured fear’ on sexuality, for a long time.

The concise Lambeth 1:10 Statement lays out Anglican doctrine on sexuality, but extreme liberals (or radical conservatives) have wilfully disregarded it at times.

Same-sex attracted people have never attacked my evangelical faith and I think the Church of Ireland should strenuously avoid conflict with gay or lesbian people. Gay bars or night clubs, near city centre cathedrals, pose no threat to the church.

Dr James Hardy, Belfast BT5

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Veteran synod member fears for Church of Ireland’s future as annual congress draws near

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