The Church and the Homosexual
by John J. McNeill
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Book Summary Information
Author: John J. McNeillEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1993-09-01
ISBN: 0807079316
Number of pages: 266
Publisher: Beacon Press
Book Reviews of The Church and the Homosexual
Book Review: Eisegesis
Summary: 3 Stars
Ultimately, the casuistry of defrocked Fr. McNeil exposes itself. If the Levitical Code of Holiness no longer applies in the new covenant, surely the Pauline epistle to the Romans does. And the text is not as ambiguous as McNeil's casuistry would have readers be deceived. The sin of idolatry of same-sex relations is unambiguous, and is archetypal of sin itself -- at least in Pauline anthropology and theology.
From the early Didache throughout Christian history, same-sex relations have not only been condemned, they've been regarded as demonic, an oracle of the evil one, as Louis Crompton's "Civilization & Homosexuality" documents.
The problem that homophiles refuse to acknowledge is in the Roman indictment itself. Those who appeal to wisdom are claimed to be fools (i.e., Greek philosophers and androphiles). Those who engage in same-sex erotica, have "already been given up" to debased minds and thinking. So, that an ex-priest's use of casuistry to make unsupportable claims would be self-validating of the Romans 1 indictment. Casuistry, whether Jesuitical or not, as Blaise Pascal observed, does not alter a tiger's spots.
Unfortunately, for homophiles, this primitive thinking has infected 15 centuries of Christian hegemony, and as long as Judaism, Christianity, and/or Islam are taken "at face value," for their claims, homophiles will be excluded from the Elect, Chosen, and Kingdom. As long as scriptures are thought to be articles of truth, rather than articles of obedience, the word of god will stand against casuists.
Biologists, who are not beholden to prove scriptures right or wrong, insist homophilia is biologically normal. Certainly, the Greeks and Romans thought so, which may explain why Paul indicts "the wise" as fools. Perhaps the fools are those who believe in ancient tales that have no credibility, not the ones who are erotically, emotionally, and physically attracted to their same sex.
If angels rape women, if women turn into salt, if the sun stands still, if virgins give birth, if water changes into wine, if the dead regain life, if apparitions ascend into heavens, perhaps the 300+ dreams and visions of the Bible are just that: dreams. Unfortunately, those dreams have caused immense suffering -- from sexism, racism, slavery, homophobia, and war in the middle east. All in the name of god.
Summary of The Church and the Homosexual
Fourth EditionIn this "brave and good book which shatters bad myths" (Commonweal), McNeill shows that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality, and argues that the Church must not continue its homophobic practices.
"The Church and the Homosexual is a major weapon for those who are fighting to change the Church."
-The Reverend Paul Moore, Jr.
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