ISSN 0951-8657. Published by Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. © 1995. All rights reserved. Printed by Newsfax International London E15 Bishops are being outed. The Church of England is reviewing its position on lesbian and gay equality. Catholic Cardinal Hume condemns homophobia. Fanfares greet the opening of "Priest" with its gay theme. What on earth is going on, and should socialists care?
Homosexuality and heresy used to be regarded as identical. Those practising homosexuality were burnt at the stake.
Churches saw homosexuality as not just wrong, like non-procreative heterosexual sex, but as positively needing to be exterminated.
It is a view still held today by most fundamentalists.
So why is a liberal tide washing the steps of Canterbury Cathedral?
Certainly the concentrated "outing" of bishops campaign waged by Outrage has brought the issue to tabloid attention. But underlying it has been the conscious, if snail-paced, accommodation of church leaders to social reality.
This process is essential to the survival of their institution - as with the movement towards accepting women priests.
Religions are an ideological prop for social orders. Churches are the institutional representations of superstitions. They are the visible form of divine presence, something actual which people can worship, and so achieve relief and compensation for a world which is beyond their control or understanding.
But as societies change so must the way religions present their ideological packages. Otherwise they SOCIALISE run the risk of being left on the side-lines.
Islamic fundamentalism tries to re-assert laws which were developed to cope with seventh century nomadic society. Christianity has had to adjust from being a creed for a feudal peasant society to life in a LESBIAN & OW Socialists applaud any CAY tabloid? modern industrial world. In some* areas they haven't quite made it yet. improvement in human rights. For lesbian and gay priests not to be discriminated against by their church is a good thing, both for them, but also because another ideological prop for homophobia is weakened in •the process.
But it is not enough.
Real liberation of lesbian and gay sexuality can only develop in a society where people understand that they themselves can change the world and their lives - not some divine being.
So good luck to the gay bishops -and when they finally break down their sexism the lesbian bishops too.
But they shouldn't expect those of us who have seen the suffering imposed by their institutions to give them more than half a cheer.
So is "outing" justified?
In a society where lesbians and gay men are sacked, lose their children, are discriminated against, beaten up and ridiculed all without any legal recourse, the decision to come out has to remain a personal Campaigners for lesbian and gay liberation want people to come out and take part in a struggle for our own liberation. But first we have to create an environment where it is safe for someone to do so. That is what is lacking.
In the end what is the difference between forcing "out" a public figure from a homophobic institution and being forced "out" by a reactionary Who gains from the outing of gay bishops who are so terrified of their sexuality that they support the homophobic institutions of religion and church?
If clergy genuinely support equality then they can join the many organisations which take forward the struggle. But to see this through they'll have to break with religion too. The Church of England will never become an organisation which is really on the side of the oppressed.