Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

THE KINGDOM :: 97
“I’ve never heard of ‘Old Catholic.’”
“Yeah, not many people have. It’s the best-kept secret in
Catholicism. But there are lots of Old Catholics around.”
“And they’re allowed to be married? Or gay?”
“Most of them. It depends upon the bishop. It’s a pretty
chaotic movement in the States. The bishop makes the rules.
Some bishops are more conservative than Rome, and some
are more liberal than Annie Sprinkle.”
“St. Annie!” Kat exclaimed.
“Hey, I’d pray to her!” Susan announced. They had a
good laugh. “Really, there are lots of different kinds of
Catholics. Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Anglicans,
Old Catholics, they’re all Catholic, just not Roman. And the
Romans are the only Catholics in the world that require their
clergy to be celibate. It’s a crazy rule, put into effect in the
Middle Ages only to prevent the sons of priests from inheriting
the church’s property.” The kettle began to squeal.
“You’re shitting me.”
“I shit you not.” Susan poured the hot water into their
cups.
Kat bobbed her teabag up and down considering this.
“You keep saying, ‘them.’ So does that mean you’re not Old
Catholic?”
“No. I’m Lutheran—cradle to grave.” She smiled. “I even
did my Master’s in Theology at PLTS—that’s the Lutheran
Seminary up on the hill. That’s where Dylan and I met, actually.”
“And the other spousal unit around here, Brian?”
“He’s Jewish.”
“But he lives here? He’s not a friar, is he?”
“No. Jews don’t have friars. He’s just married to one.”
Kat’s head swam, but in a delightful, intoxicating way.
“Okay, here’s what I don’t get. When I think of Christians, I
don’t think of cool people who love gays and smoke doobies.