Allow me to inject a Lutheran perspective to this discussion. Although Lutheran pastors are allowed to marry and expected to marry, the liberal seminaries were taken over in the 1980's by the homosexual/lesbian activists. The gay activists were welcome and mentored by the faculty. When it seemed shocking at first that candidates might be lesbian or homosexual (women's ordination began in 1970 but really caught on much later), the graduating seniors were instructed in how to avoid direct questions. "I understand your question and share your concern about the seriousness of the issue."

Seminaries known for being liberal in the past turned into rainbow coalitions. A class about Luther became "How much of a male chauvinist pig was Luther?" Any non-PC statement was countered with fem-rage or homosexual hysteria.

I was long gone from the ELCA bunch but I can imagine the impact of these seminaries upon normal, heterosexual males. It was said over a decade ago that women graudating from ELCA seminaries were either divorced before they arrived or divorced by the time of their ordination.

Fellow freepers, you would think that the conservative Lutheran synods (Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod, ELS) would be nauseated by the pro-homosexual and pro-abortion ELCA pastors. But no, they love working together with ELCA on many different evangelism projects - especially evangelism!

I am glad the issue is coming out in the open, but remember, it is a pan-denominational issue, not just a Roman Catholic issue.

Here is the Lutheran homosexual/lesbian activist website:

Lutherans Concerned

Thank you for sharing what is happening in the ELCA. Catholics who would advocate female priests should take a good look at what kind of women are attracted to a previously all-male profession.

Thanks for sharing you Lutheran perspective on this plague upon both our Houses.

IF we the parishoners don't stand up for our values and confront this issue, they win, and our Churches will die.