Gayness, The Series PART TWO
THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, IN EXPANDED FORM IS NOW POSTED IN PDF FORMAT AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://jaygaskill.com/AboutGaynessEcclesialAndSecular
Gayness, Ecclesial and Secular
PART TWO: How and WHYHere I am forced – as we all are for the tough questions in life – to resort to “mere” anecdotal evidence. My own survey reveals that a strong plurality of the most impressive pastors, chaplains and priests are gay males who enjoy a notable measure of non-threatening charisma, a strong gift for creative, healing humor and a natural, unforced compassion; these are traits and abilities that tend to set them apart from the less gifted. The presence of gay “healers’ in a group tends to mitigate conflict and promote group cohesion and morale.
I’m sure the firefighters in Ladder Company 24 who survived the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001 in Manhattan would fervently agree. Their Chaplain, the Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Mychal Judge, a gay man, died in the line of duty while administering last rites to a firefighter in the midst of the danger and chaos of Ground Zero. His helmet is kept at the Vatican. I took this picture at Ladder Station 24 soon after Fr. Judge died.
PICTURE AND TEXT COPYRIGHT 2008 BY JAY B GASKILL
CONTACT VIA EMAIL: law@jaygaskill.com
