Not Shepherds, But Wolves
The Times has run an interesting piece about the Anglican Church in the UK: The congregations believe in religious verities more than the clergy. Link. Excerpt:
The report says that if committed Anglicans are clear about one thing it is the existence of God: 97 per cent have no hesitation in affirming His existence. Yet, it continues, one in 33 clerics doubts the existence of God. If reflected throughout the Church's 9,000 clergy the finding would mean that nearly 300 Church of England clergy are uncertain that God exists.
Equal numbers of clergy and laity, eight out of ten, believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ but more laity than clergy believe in the Virgin Birth – 62 per cent compared with 60 per cent – and in the miracle where Jesus turned water into wine – 65 per cent compared with 61 per cent. The biggest division comes over the issue of homosexuality. One third of clergy are in favour of the ordination of practising homosexuals as priests, compared with one quarter of laity. Nearly one third of clergy also support the ordination of gay bishops, but among the laity this falls to fewer than one fifth.
Whereas 56 per cent of the laity believe that it is wrong for people of the same gender to have sex together, the proportion falls to 48 per cent among the clergy.
Ministers who doubt the existence of God. Isn't that like a Secret Service agent that doubts the existence of the President?
Odd stuff. Then again, if your religion has become just another civic organization, there's no harm or even inconsistency.
Side note: We're willing to bet that those that who doubt His existence are also disproportionately inclined to support the loosening of moral norms.
The link above has this blurb at the bottom:
A clergyman who lives in a nine-bedroom vicarage has written to his parishioners asking for donations to help him to buy another house to use as an office for the parish.
The Rev Matthew Porter, Vicar of St Chad's in Woodseats, Sheffield, says there is not enough room for him, his wife, his five children and the office in the vicarage.
He said that only a relative of a church member had complained. So far, £70,000 has been raised towards a £150,000 house.
Do Roman Catholics really want married priests?
