Ethics question for theists - serious - looking for opinions not argument.
September 16, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Greetings to the collective brain. Atheists are welcome to chime in on this . . . but I'm really looking for Christian responses. I have a lot of Christian (mostly Catholic) friends, but I can't ask them, because they know the area churches and would know who I'm talking about.
For background, I'm a lesbian. (And an atheist.) I play the organ for Catholic Mass once a week. I think I'm a rare example of my breed - I told the music director and the priest about my orientation. Before you think I'm bragging, I have NOT told the choir members. I know that many of them would be outraged. But I need the $$.
I have a female friend who is married to a woman. This person gets hired to do religious retreats in churches. She travels the country doing these retreats. She brings a male assistant to these retreats and introduces him as her husband. (He's gay.)
Another friend of ours asked me yesterday if somebody shouldn't tell the churches that _____ is a lesbian. I replied that the question made me very nervous, because if the choir knew about me, I could be fired. I asked if she had some problem with homosexuals in the church, and she said no - but she has a problem with homosexuals that lie about their orientation and then get paid (and paid well) to lead religious retreats. She said that the comments people made at these retreats - about how the leader is so "wonderfully spiritual and clearly inspired" and how "it's great to see a husband and wife team so dedicated to the Lord" just make her sick.
Well, I haven't told the choir folks about my orientation, and yes, I get paid, and yes, they think I'm spiritual and worshipful and blessed. I don't correct them. I didn't know how to respond to this person, other than to beg her not to do anything.
Thoughts? Should somebody "out" my friend, who makes a living leading religious retreats while lying about her home life? Should I quit playing for church? (I probably should find another source of additional income, I know. But I love some of these people. I'm not a believer, but the music is fun.)
-- Fuzz
For background, I'm a lesbian. (And an atheist.) I play the organ for Catholic Mass once a week. I think I'm a rare example of my breed - I told the music director and the priest about my orientation. Before you think I'm bragging, I have NOT told the choir members. I know that many of them would be outraged. But I need the $$.
I have a female friend who is married to a woman. This person gets hired to do religious retreats in churches. She travels the country doing these retreats. She brings a male assistant to these retreats and introduces him as her husband. (He's gay.)
Another friend of ours asked me yesterday if somebody shouldn't tell the churches that _____ is a lesbian. I replied that the question made me very nervous, because if the choir knew about me, I could be fired. I asked if she had some problem with homosexuals in the church, and she said no - but she has a problem with homosexuals that lie about their orientation and then get paid (and paid well) to lead religious retreats. She said that the comments people made at these retreats - about how the leader is so "wonderfully spiritual and clearly inspired" and how "it's great to see a husband and wife team so dedicated to the Lord" just make her sick.
Well, I haven't told the choir folks about my orientation, and yes, I get paid, and yes, they think I'm spiritual and worshipful and blessed. I don't correct them. I didn't know how to respond to this person, other than to beg her not to do anything.
Thoughts? Should somebody "out" my friend, who makes a living leading religious retreats while lying about her home life? Should I quit playing for church? (I probably should find another source of additional income, I know. But I love some of these people. I'm not a believer, but the music is fun.)
-- Fuzz
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
