Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

THE KINGDOM :: 203
“If Jesus didn’t use sinners, there wouldn’t be a church,
and none of us would be sitting here. Now, about whether
the friars are perverts, as Bishop Hammet calls them, I suppose
that is a matter of opinion. Fr. Milne is gay, and is in a
monogamous, committed relationship with a Talmudic
scholar, and yes, they live together on the Friary grounds. Fr.
Milne’s partner is a part-time librarian at the Graduate
Theological Union, and does much of the cooking for the
order. I’ll admit that his Turkish enchiladas are wicked, but
he is not.”
Tom picked up the picture of Richard going into the bathhouse.
“This piece of evidence is circumstantial at best. I
don’t know exactly what Fr. Kinney was doing in that bathhouse.
But let’s say it is what you allege. I won’t defend him.
It is, at best, indiscreet. It is, at worst, self-destructive and
sad. I don’t condemn Fr. Kinney, but I do feel sorry for him.
I feel sorry that he is so desperate for love and affection that
he has to go to a place like this to get it. I do know that he
struggles with his sexuality. I wish he loved and accepted
himself enough to settle down with a partner as Fr. Terry
has. But that is his path to walk, hard as it is, not mine. And
not yours, either, Bishop Hammet.”
Bishop Hammet opened his mouth to protest, but Tom
was on a roll, and continued. “Now, let’s consider this last
bit of alleged evidence you’ve presented....” He paused.
What was he going to say? He picked up the bulletin board
log. “I’m afraid Bishop Hammet has fed this Synod some
misinformation that is unfairly coloring this material. The
Ordo Templi Orientis is not a Satanic organization, as
Bishop Hammet declares. It did not originate with Aleister
Crowley, but with a German Lodge in the Masonic tradition,
which Crowley happened to join. Do we have any Masons
in our midst?”
No one volunteered any information. “Well, it is a secret