A Bracing Sermon: Are You Ready?
(Touchstone)

I received this from contributing editor Anne Gardiner--a more bracing sermon than the usual fare, coming from the new Roman Catholic bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley in Scotland:

Today's gospel begins with a brief but arresting summary of the mission of Jesus to his contemporaries. It bears repeating. 'The time has come·and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe the Good News.'

The time has come. What time are we in? I think we are in a key time, possibly a defining moment, for our society and for the Church in our society. Recently the Scottish Parliament has enacted legislation that allows for same-sex partnerships to be registered in what are officially termed civil partnerships. The purpose of this legislation is to give same-sex partnerships recognition in law similar to the legal status previously accorded only to the institution of marriage, including the right to apply for the adoption of children. . . .

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