Janet (not her name) is a nurse practitioner in one of Ontario’s large hospitals. There, one of her specialised duties is the supervision of diabetic patients undergoing dialysis. Entering a room where a patient lay waiting for this particular care, Janet saw that the program being shown on the television screen was one discussing the day-to-day lives of several lesbian women. Her patient expressed her disgust with these women and stated that she would be horrified, “If one of these people laid a hand on me.” After the treatment was over and Janet was assured that her patient was comfortable, she pondered, “Should I have told her that I am a lesbian woman or was I right to maintain my duty as a nurse and fulfill only my duty there? Did I miss an opportunity?” By the way, some years ago Janet left her church where she was baptized as a baby. She felt that she would not continue to be seen as a valuable member if she were honest about herself. Janet now worships in the church of another denomination.
I am sure that amongst our intelligent, thoughtful church members there are some who could tell similar stories. The old story: “Evil will prevail because good people do nothing.”
