Episcopalians say no to homosexual priests

DENVER (AP) A committee of Episcopal bishops recommended yesterday that the 3-million-member church bar practicing homosexuals from ordination, but allow those who resist their "homosexual orientation" to become priests.

The recommendation, contained in a resolution published during the afternoon session of the church's 66th General Convention here, will be debated tomorrow before the 239-member House of Bishops, the first of the two church chambers to discuss any legislative proposal.

The resolution was drafted after two executive sessions between ministry committees of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, a chamber comprised of lay and clerical members.

Although the bishops praised a

controversial report by a church commission on ordination of homosexuals, the committee rejected the commission's recommendation that no human condition be a barrier to ordination.

"There are many human conditions, some of them in the area of sexuality, which bear on a person's suitability for ordination," the bishops' resolution said.

The bishops went on to say that "every ordinand is expected to lead a life which is a wholesome example to all people," making it "not appropriate for this church to ordain a practicing homosexual, or any person who is engaged in heterosexual relations outside of marriage."

Currently, the church has no formal policy on the issue, but in practice, ordination of homosexuals is discouraged.