John 8:3-11

John 8:3-11. The Lutibelle Translation

  • Hear what Jesus had to say about the heresy trial:

    [3] The Presenters brought a bishop who had been caught in heresy; and making him stand before all of them, [4] they said to J. Carpenter, "Since you call yourself a rabbi, consider this retired bishop whom we have caught in the very act of committing heresy: he ordained a queer priest in spite of our clear resolutions that we don't want such sinners among Episcopal clergy. [5] Since the canons of ECUSA allow us to drive such bishops from the House, what do you say?"

    [6] The rabbi bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at him."

    [8] "But, teacher," they replied, "that's not fair. If we listen to you, the number of heretics will increase, and nobody will believe our church stands for anything!"

    [9] Others said, "Jesus Christ! Surely you remember that you have said that not one jot or tittle of the law shall be done away with. Kick the heretic out; then go for the other seventy plus who have done the same thing!"

    [10] But a few of the Presenters, took him aside and whispered to him privately: "Rabbi, you don't understand or you wouldn't be speaking out against us, your loyal and humble servants, beloved bishops of holy mother church! Don't forget: we have nothing against heretics actually. Nor even against queers. Everyone has had an heretical idea or two; most of us are just a bit more discreet.

    "We also have nothing against lesbians and gays: the Episcopal Church has always been a safer place for their sort. That's why we have cathedral coffee hours, just so long as they don't flaunt it.

    "You see, this case isn't really about heretics. This case is about polity and collegiality! We didn't sign the presentment to get poor Walter. Nevuh! We signed the presentment as the only way we could get the Presentment withdrawn. We want to show everybody how good we are!"

    [11] And once again the rabbi bent down and wrote on the ground. When he did, the whisperers noticed with alarm that the other Presenters had left them behind. The whisperers huffed and puffed as they they rushed out to meet their peers in court, where they had bound the heretic in chains.

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    Copyright 1995 by Louie Crew. Use freely, but credit the author and send a copy of any hard copy to:

    Louie Crew, 377 S. Harrison, 12D, East Orange, NJ 07018

    Send mail to: lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu

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