This weekend, as the media lingers on the alleged gay sex scandal between evangelical Reverend Ted Haggard and former prostitute Mike Jones, something equally important is unfolding in a more positive direction.
Katharine Jefferts Schori, who this Sunday took office as the first woman leader of the Episcopal Church and the first female priest of an Anglican province, brings with her a progressive frame of mind about gay rights within the religious community.
While Bishop Katharine said in a TIME interview in July that she will maintain a focus on feeding the hungry, providing proper education for children and addressing fatal diseases, she is also a strong proponent for accepting gay clergy into any religious affiliation.
Because the Episcopal Church in the U.S. has already accepted gays and lesbians as full members of the church, Bishop Katharine said that those desiring to enter the ministry "should be part of the fullness of our life" as well.
Her view has already been met with some controversy by those opposed to homosexuality, but Bishop Katharine's peaceful but resolute stance could broaden people's perspectives and develop a more accepting religious community, even work towards the idea of gay marriage within the church.
Bishop Katharine's leadership through example can show that homosexuality is not a fire-and-brimstone way to hell, but simply a preference different from heterosexuality.
Indeed, if someone works in the image of God or whatever higher power they believe in, treating others as they would like to be treated and striving to make a positive contribution to their religious community, then why should it make a difference whether they prefer men or women?
If a gay person stays committed to their equally loving and consenting partner, works to make the right decisions every day and make peace with their neighbors, why should they be denied equal rights as those of their straight counterparts?
Unfortunately, outstanding events such as Ted Haggard's "drug-fueled trysts," as coined in an article by the Associated Press, and cases of pedophilia within the Roman Catholic Church leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. Thank god Haggard isn't in a political race like Tom Foley- imagine the campaign ads.
Someone like Haggard is a detriment to his church and those in it who do try to follow what they believe is the holy way. As a religious representative, he does a disservice to all religions by preaching one thing and doing the opposite, and makes any sacred community more open to criticism.
Haggard also greatly hurts the gay community, causing it to be associated with disgrace and repression rather than pride and open communication.
The topic of homosexuality itself, which is the center of the Haggard scandal and at the heart of Bishop Katharine's reign, should be up to people's interpretation based on what they experience in real life.
Many people like Haggard who oppose homosexuality have quoted ambiguous passages such as Leviticus 18:22, which loosely translates into "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
The decree could have applied to all homosexuals, or just sodomy between men in a woman's bed, or simply homosexual activity in a specific Pagan ritual. If anything, I think the passage condones lesbianism.
But instead of relying on something that could have had a multitude of interpretations for its time and place, why not focus on the here and now? The reason why people like Haggard react so violently to homosexuality in the first place is because it is still taboo in most religious communities and many places in society, and rather than discuss it people are quick to cite passages and condemn it.
If people would be willing to look at the issue while asking, "does this harm my or anyone else's well-being?" or "how is this affecting my neighbor," there would be much greater understanding and sensibility within the church and society. And then more fragile beings like Haggard would have nothing to feel ashamed of.
