The history of gay pride parades in Jerusalem was inaugurated several years ago with the stabbing of several participants. But it has also brought together, in the holy city of inter- and intra-religious squabbling, the three major Abrahamic faiths with their shared opposition to homosexuality. Spiritual leaders of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam denounced and opposed the invasion of their sacred streets by a common enemy. It’s amazing that this reconciliation was not celebrated around the world.

And today we are brought the news of another such reconciliation. The Catholic Church has extended a papist hand to Anglicans. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/world/europe/21pope.html?hp) Once people were put on the rack until they confessed one erroneous creed or another, then beheaded… But now, in a heartwarming ecumenical spirit,

the Vatican on Tuesday announced it would make it easier for Anglicans uncomfortable with the Church of England’s acceptance of women priests and openly gay bishops to join the Catholic Church.

That’s right! Centuries of animosity and violence can now be laid to rest.

The Vatican’s decision, they said in a statement of unity between the two churches, was “further recognition of the substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality between the Catholic Church and the Anglican tradition.”

Asked at the Vatican news conference what would happen if an Anglican congregation led by a woman priest wanted to join the Catholic Church, Cardinal Levada smiled and said, “I would be surprised” if that happened.

Next the Vatican plans to open its arms to Muslim brethren, who share its messianic vision of Jesus but have quibbled with the Church in the past on the matter of his divinity. Catholics believe that Jesus is divine, while Muslims consider this to be a breach of monotheism. It is time, after over a millennium of minor disagreements, to embrace the ecumenical spirit of shared disdain for women and gays. The Church is still working out the details of this arrangement as few traditional Muslims have shown interest in conversion to Catholicism as a purer expression of their faith, but is confident that it can find a way to allow converts to continue to recite the Shahada after communion.