only to contain itself within the limits of fair play and stay out of politics, business, and art.
M
ore men have lived by the laws of economic necessity than have died by the laws of any priesthood, and the world is no worse a place-now than it has ever been, contrary to the carefully calculated fears of religious and political leaders. Actually it grows steadily better in spite of the leashes and muzzles of those seers and knowers of the unseeable and unknowable.
B
ut the soul saving politicos never stop trying. Within such groups lie the witch hunters of homosexuality. Yet ironically, the doctrines they preach swell the ranks of homosexuality every year. In our fight for survival, which is exactly what we are facing today, it behooves us to go to our church leaders and ask, "What do you think of homosexuality within the barbed wire of your beliefs?" If the answer is, "God help you, and we will try to with all the wisdom and understanding we can muster," you have made a rare and lucky choice. But if the answer is, in effect, "You are
abominable and vile and I intend to use my congregation to force our lawmakers to outlaw you," then batten down your hatches and get ready for a blow. You will be attacked (from the safety of their pulpits) by these dedicated servants of humanity. Most churches will reject you. They may offer you a deal and if you do not care for your integrity, you may do fairly well for yourself, especially at testimonial time. If you do care and you insist that any agreement give you as much consideration as any other member of the congregation, prepare for the worst. You'll probably be the subject of next Sunday's diatribe.
I
have heard of only one church, located in Southern California, that opened its doors to meetings of homosexuals each week. But in this year of Our Lord 1954, the doors were slammed shut when the minister resigned. Where will it end? Perhaps, eventually, Nature will be allowed to show us the face of reality once more and we can dare live as human beings possessed of freedom and equality as Nature intended.
ARCADIE
19, rue Béranger, Paris 3, France
Monthly magazine in French; literary and scientific, infrequent photos and drawings. $9. yearly. Orders may be placed through ONE, Inc.
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