For the first time since the Protestant Reformation, Catholic priests and theologians are openly criticizing their church starting at the top with the Vatican hierarchy. Said a catholic clergyman this week, "The Catholic Church must die and be resurrected." Others were calling for a Vatican III to deal with the woes of the world's largest Christian organization. (At Right: Jesus Rises (from The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision) by F. Douglas Blanchard.)

Calling for a church resurrection in the week that Christians are celebrating their highest holy day, Easter, is not without its irony.

Another irony is that while Martin Luther using scripture was unable to bring down the Vatican from within, as is happening now, the issue that is provoking religious outrage is not theology or scripture. It is the gay issue and the RC Church's hypocrisy about damning gays outside the church while protecting gay priest inside the arms of mother church.

At one time the church was burning gay people at the stake. Now the gay issue is putting the fire to the feet of churchmen. Many now claim convincingly that the Pope himself may be involved in the cover up of child molesting priests.

How will this turn out? The church will survive. It always does, but it will not be without some burnt marks, a loss of membership, and some serious policies changes.

Will they soon accept gay people? Absolutely not. But their preaching against gay people will be diminished by their own crimes which were far worse than two same sex people loving each other.