Thomas to new "heretic[ ]" head of Episcopal Church: "[I]f homosexual practice is not sin," church should admit "unrepentant prostitutes, murderers, liars, thieves and atheists"

Summary: Cal Thomas characterized the newly elected leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, as a "heretic[]" for asserting that "homosexual practice is not sin," adding that she might as well "let everyone into the church, including unrepentant prostitutes, murderers, liars, thieves and atheists."

In his June 22 syndicated column, Fox News host Cal Thomas characterized the newly elected leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, as a "heretic[]" for asserting that "homosexual practice is not sin." Thomas also suggested that based on Jefferts Schori's " 'doctrine' of inclusion" -- that is, welcoming those guilty of "homosexual practice" into the church -- she might as well "let everyone into the church, including unrepentant prostitutes, murderers, liars, thieves and atheists."

Thomas criticized Jefferts Schori for "say[ing] she does not believe homosexuality is a sin and that homosexuals were created by God to love people of the same gender" and for saying that the Episcopal Church should "include the unincluded." He later suggested: "Maybe the question for Bishop Schori and her fellow heretics should be: if homosexual practice is not sin, what is?" He added: "With the bishop's 'doctrine' of inclusion, why exclude anyone? How about applying the religious equivalent of 'open borders' and let everyone into the church, including unrepentant prostitutes, murderers, liars, thieves and atheists."

From Thomas's June 22 column:

The new leader of the Episcopal Church in America, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, says she does not believe homosexuality is a sin and that homosexuals were created by God to love people of the same gender.

[...]

Bishop Schori, a former oceanographer for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle, says, "The Bible tells us about how to treat other human beings and that's certainly the great message of Jesus -- to include the unincluded."

[...]

Maybe the question for Bishop Schori and her fellow heretics should be: if homosexual practice is not sin, what is? And how do we know? Or is it a matter of "thus saith the opinion polls" and lobbying groups, rather than "thus saith the Lord"? With the bishop's "doctrine" of inclusion, why exclude anyone? How about applying the religious equivalent of "open borders" and let everyone into the church, including unrepentant prostitutes, murderers, liars, thieves and atheists. If the Episcopal Church denies what is clearly taught in scripture about important matters like sexual behavior, why expect its leaders to have any convictions about anything, including directions to Heaven? How can anyone be sure, if the guidebook is so full of errors?

—J.B.

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