‘Gay’prayerwrong

I was disturbed by the recent remarks by the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth about encouraging people to pray that Prince George will turn out to be gay, in the modern translation of the word, and marry someone of the same sex.

I think it is disgraceful to use a four-year-old child as propaganda for same-sex marriage – his remarks are misguided and badly thought out at best. And he should resign.

Over the years the church as a whole has behaved unfairly in demonising those who are sexually broken, rejected them and not shown them the compassion or love of Christ and many have been hurt.

As Christians, we are to pray that God’s will be done, not ours, and I do not believe it is God’s will that anyone be a practicing homosexual.

Thereisadifferencebetween feeling same-sex attraction, which is not a choice, and practicing. Before I am accused of homophobia and all manner of other things, I wish to say that I lived as a gay man for ten years before becoming a Christian and by God’s grace I have lived celibate for 17 years.

That is my personal choice and I fully accept and respect that everyone has the right to make choices in life given their sexuality.

I found the lifestyle to be full of rejection and loneliness and I would not wish to pray that on anyone.

Instead, I will pray that Prince George will turn out to be gay in the original meaning of the word, which means joyful and happy.

GORDON KENNEDY Simpson Square, Perth