BBC's 'Sunday' reports on gay candidate for bishopric

On BBC Radio 4s religious programme, Sunday, today there was a discussion/news report about the controversy of a married gay Protestant priest not being appointed a bishop in Wales.

It made for great radio. Interesting points were aired during the debate. A bishop, involved in the process of the appointment of bishops, was interviewed during the programme.

Churches around the world are discussing the topic of the sexual orientation of clergy. Is there a place for homosexual woman and men among the ranks of church clergy people?

What's happening in the Catholic Church?

It would appear there is little if any discussion and there seems to be no public discussion on the subject. It is a taboo topic for the public forum.

And yet there is a significant number of ordained Catholic men, in all ministries across the church's hierarchy, who are gay.

What happens if there is no real, charitable discussion on the subject?

Terrible dishonesty must surely develop. People turn to all sorts of silly accidentals. Obfuscation can easily become the norm. Anger too, palpable anger manifests itself, sometimes in drunken brawls, in alcoholism, in mental illness. And also in a destructive silence.

An over-emphasis in liturgical celebration always seems a possibility in a world of secretive homosexual clericalism.

And then there is an inordinate adherence to 'orthodoxy'.

It's the secrecy, the dishonesty, the obfuscation that must make it all such an unhealthy world.

Is the Catholic Church a healthier place by not discussing the topic, keeping the lid on the issue, or would it in the longterm be a better idea to talk about it all?

The BBC Radio 4 Sunday  programme is aired Sundays between 07.00 and 08.00.