Mainline Protestants Affirm Homosexuality as a Lifestyle

While denominations like The Episcopal Church have long-affirmed 'gay' rights, the Pew Forum has found that a most mainline Protestants are also declaring that homosexuality should be accepted as a valid lifestyle.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - There was a time when Protestant and Catholic Churches spokes as one when it came to moral issues, such as homosexuality. That time is no more.

The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, in their recent "U.S. Landscape Survey," concluded that 56 percent of all mainline Protestants now say that homosexuality is a way of life that should be accepted.

The survey also found that 40 percent of historically black churches and more than one-fourth of all Protestants who describe themselves as Evangelicals also hold the same opinion.

The Episcopal Church (TEC) had the largest representation of those who affirm this position, with 70 percent, followed closely by the United Church of Christ at 69 percent and the Evangelical Lutheran Church at 56 percent. The Presbyterian Church USA and the United Methodist Church were split decisions, with 52 and 51 percent respectively.

Findings:

The Episcopal Church - 70%
United Church of Christ - 69%
Anglican Church - 63%
Evangelical Lutheran Church - 56%
Presbyterian Church USA - 52%
Methodist Church - 51%
Disciples of Christ - 43%
American Baptist Church - 40%

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A former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, Randy Sly entered the full communion of the Catholic Church three years ago. he is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online.

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