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- A Leading Church of England theologian has called for
a revision of the Christian stance against homosexuality, prostitution
and drugs.
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- John Elford, Canon Theologian of Liverpool Cathedral,
argues that the widespread belief that the Bible prohibits active homosexual
relationships is a false combination of prejudice and ignorance. In a book
to be published next month, he calls for the decriminalisation of prostitution
and drugs, and mounts an attack on the Pope and other conservatives who
defend traditional moral certainties.
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- The book, The Ethics of Uncertainty, will add to the
controversy over homosexuality in the Anglican Communion. Dr Elford, Pro-Rector
Emeritus of Liverpool's Hope University, argues that the Bible does not
take a view on homosexuality and notes that Jesus, who lived a celibate
lifestyle with 12 male Apostles, never mentions the subject.
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- Passages in Leviticus, Genesis, Romans and Corinthians
generally used to support the anti-homosexual view have been misinterpreted,
he says. "A central one in the Book of Genesis seems to attribute
the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to homosexual acts, but it is more
likely that the object of condemnation is the homosexual rape of divine
messengers," he writes. "The one in Romans is more clearly directed
against homosexual lust in connection with the main topic of discussion
at that point, which is idolatry."
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- He says his view is more widespread than many realise.
"Bishops and others who ordain clergy often do so in the tacit knowledge
that those they are ordaining are homosexual, practising or otherwise."
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- Dr Elford urges the decriminalisation of prostitution,
which he says was part of some ancient religious cultic practices. Prostitution
can help to mitigate offences such as child abuse and rape, he argues,
adding that prostitutes are vulnerable people who suffer from economic
exploitation.
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- On drugs, he questions whether all hard and soft drugs
should not be legalised to bring addicts out of their "shadowy underworld"
so that they could be cared for. "We must put that righteousness aside
and begin afresh," Dr Elford says.
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