Episcopal bishop won't suspend priests involved with Druids

I'm not making this up...

<http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04315/409822.stm>

The Associated Press

DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. -- Two Episcopal priests who led Druidic activity will not be suspended, said a bishop, who blamed the local scandal on conservative groups out to destabilize the Episcopal Church USA.

The Rev. William Melnyk and his wife, the Rev. Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk, had participated only in "exploratory thinking" with Druid circles as students of pre-Christian Celtic spirituality, said Bishop Charles E. Bennison, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

But his discussions with the couple, he said, convinced him that they had not led any Druid groups or joined nature-worshiping Druid rites.

"They made a small error of judgment that has been very costly to their ministry and their church, and the church at large," Bennison said yesterday.

<more>

Good to see that conservatism isn't trumping all facets of religious life. It just seems that way, sometimes.

People can find god in all different ways. Do they have nothing better to do than go around and tell everyone else what to think? Oh wait why am I asking such a dumb question?

the crusades. I think its great that they wanted to learn more of the Driud and Celtic beliefs.
Blessings
~~Celtic

They couldn't handle any religion that was outside their system.

One of the problems with studying Druidism academically is that the Druids were the subject of a number of persecutions and conquests, not only by the Romans, but also by Norsemen, Normans, Saxons, and Christians. Much Druidic wisdom was censored, evolved into something unrecognisable, or just plain lost; although it is true that the Romans never invaded Ireland, so that country became a haven for Druidic learning for a while.

http://www.crystalinks.com/druids.html

Sounds to me like the conservatives really do have them on the run. And if these priests had gotten as far as a little ecumenical nature-worship (!) you can be sure their hides would already be tacked to the wall.

Sad times we live in. And maybe even sadder to see a one-great religion like Christianity getting trashed the way it is.

The next four Years, I may not have to revert back to the Broom Closet.

LOL!

In the Church of Religious Science (like Unitarian) - liberal churches believe in all paths to God, generally. You can study anything you want!

And I though the Episcopalian Church was one of them. But I guess not. They need to go somewhere where they can incorporate different types of spirituality into ... well, their spirituality ... and no one will harass them.

What a bummer.

They will NOT be suspended. It was just some (probably lay) conservatives trying to get them into trouble.

The Episcopal Church actually IS pretty liberal on these counts, but the lay people aren't always up to speed.

When my church in Portland hosted the ordination of a gay man, we had protestors--none from within the parish, though, only from people who had journeyed across town.

the right to look into reports that two of its priests may be practicing Druidism. Last I heard, it was still a Christian church and Druids are not Christians. Bit of a conflict of interest for Christian clergy to practice a nonChristian religion, IMNSHO.

I also think the Druidic hierarchy has the right to look into any reports of Druid priests who may be practicing Anglicanism. Fair is fair.

The next atrocity will be human sacrifice!

{sarcasm off}