Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about Iker, personally (as opposed to professionally), hanging out w/ women clergy. But I remember the event and they wanted to “clean up the Church”. Considering they wouldn’t normally even *talk* to each other, they had clearly found a common eneny. That would be me…

I don’t think of the “closet cases” as hypocritical: that’s their personal choice just as the last five years were a personal choice for me. I’ve been in the “out political” movement… Don’t need to go back. *shrug*.

I think the hypocritical action comes in sitting through a Duncan lecture without calling him down. One needn’t be out to tell him he’s wrong. Or walk out of the talk. Or whatnot.

‘Anglican Shi’ites and Sunnis (let the reader understand) have these “high church” and “low church” parties’ is one of the pithiest, best descriptions I’ve read. It doesn’t capture every shade of churchmanship but is close enough for a sound byte. :)

The conservatives have a handful of Anglo-Catholics along with scads of low-Central Episcopalians and boatloads of Third World Evangelicals (lower in churchmanship than almost all Americans)…

…whilst the liberals have their high churchmen, the credally orthodox and liturgically conservative who have far more in common with me than with Spong or mainstream RC but are OK with gay weddings (and women clergy), and their low churchmen, the Spong-ish types, an ageing minority just like the radical liberal nuns in the Roman communion.

Regarding the accusation of hypocrisy against Bishop Iker of course I understand. I’ve no problem recognising women clergy as sister Christians and acknowledging the good many of them do in their ministries, but as a Catholic I don’t claim to be in communion with them. Seems less hurtful that way, strange as it seems. But you raise a well-known point that the Elizabethan settlement holding Catholics and Protestants together can’t last. Essentially one of Fr Heidt’s points.

And I agree that Father’s descriptions and comparison of Protestant and Catholic views of sin and grace are beautiful.

Finally as I mentioned in another comment I know there are lots of gays in Anglo-Catholicism including the SSC. A well-known bit of Anglican insider lore. We know some of the same people. That falls under tolerant conservatism - uphold the faith but apply it charitably. Something that might seem hypocritical (’Closet cases!’) to you and other gay critics but something I believe in.