Who are you to judge? Don't you think that he has been asked these "obvious questions" time and time again in public and private, by friends and enemies alike? What makes your asking these questions any different? Why should he report more about his private life to you than others?

The monastery is supposed to be a place for monks to come together and work in peace and harmony. Brother merlyn is a monk in good standing and should be allowed a reprieve from questions about his private life in coming here, just as we don't ask you all the details of your life. If you care to share them with us, that is of your own accord, but it is not our place to pry so vehemently as you have just done.

Merlyn was gracious enough to tell us as much as he did, he could have not told us at all. He was hoping for a little support from his fellow monks in coming here, whether we approve of his actions or not. He has been given some support, and hopefully his worries will be all the lighter for it.

Maybe i have too idealistic a vision of what the monastery is, but time and again i log in and find peace within these (virtual) walls. My fellow brethren are adept at giving comfort and peace to the weary souls that travel here, and i am very grateful for it. Since you come back here as well surely you must be grateful for it too. Should we deny merlyn the same hiatus from the Real World? For that is what these questions seem to do. It is highly unfair treatment. He has answered these questions already, if his answers were not good enough for you, than fine, they weren't, but there was no reason to post questions that he has already answered.

jynx