From Ekklesia:
The gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has received a standing ovation at the Greenbelt Christian festival.
Speaking about “the struggle for queer freedom in Africa”, he attacked church leaders who condone homophobic abuse, but praised the “brave, heroic Christians who refuse to go along with the persecution of people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual”.
Greenbelt, one of Britain's largest Christian festivals, has drawn over 21,000 visitors over the weekend. Tatchell was speaking on Saturday evening (28 August).
Prior to the weekend, Tatchell had told Ekklesia that he was “looking forward” to the weekend and that, while not a Christian himself, “we have more in common than divides us”. The turnout suggests that few had heeded a call by the socially conservative group Anglican Mainstream, to boycott Greenbelt because of Tatchell's presence on the programme.
Tatchell drew enthusiastic applause from parts of the audience, and uncomfortable expressions from others, when he accused the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, of “colluding” with the persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Africa.
“The Anglican Church and Archbishop Rowan Williams have a lot to answer for, because they have put church unity before human rights,” he said.
Perhaps those with "uncomfortable expressions" would do well to consider who follows the Gospel message, Peter Tatchell, who is no longer a Christian, or Archbishop Rowan Williams.
From Anglican Mainstream:
BOYCOTT GREENBELT if you want to safeguard vulnerable children, said an Anglican Mainstream consultant after her concerns over the presence of Peter Tatchell at this year’s festival were ignored.
Dr Lisa Nolland wrote an open letter to the festival organisers complaining about “the further gayification of Greenbelt,” following the invitation of the gay rights campaigner, which she saw as compounding damage done by inviting the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson, to speak last year.
Safeguard your children from gayification! Good grief! The pollution of the minds of the little ones from the presence of Bishop Gene Robinson at Greenbelt last year was bad enough.
Of course, the name Anglican Mainstream contains within itself the greatest of ironies.
Note to the ABC: Take lessons from Bishop Oscar Romero and Fr Roy Bourgeois.
“Let those who have a voice, speak out for the voiceless.”
Oscar Romero
Silence is the voice of complicity.
Fr. Roy Bourgeois
H/T to Timothy Kincaid at Box Turtle Bulletin for the photo and the link to Ekklesia.
The turnout suggests that few had heeded a call by the socially conservative group Anglican Mainstream, to boycott Greenbelt because of Tatchell's presence on the programme.
ReplyDeleteI would think there's a good chance this actively raised the number of people who decided to go.
I have little doubt that the law of unintended consequences kicked in with the suggestion of the boycott.
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteOn the "let's keep a sense of proportion about all this" front, Teatime 2, commentating on T 19's thread on the anti-gay communiqué issued by some of the primates attending last week's African conference, asks "why the African church insists on focusing on homosexuality as the greatest evil [when] women are methodically gang-raped in many of the countries; little boys are rounded up and forced into becoming landmine fodder; females have their genitals mutilated. ABC News had a report Friday about nutjobs killing and/or hacking off the limbs of albino Africans for use in witch doctor potions."
ReplyDeleteA second commentator, Br. Michael, explains "Because homosexual behavior is as much a sin as the other things you mentioned".
Tobias, in the ABC's leanings toward Rome, he should attend to the words of right-thinking Roman Catholics.
ReplyDeleteLapin, the mindset exemplified by Br Michael in his statement is shockingly widespread, more's the pity.
“The Anglican Church and Archbishop Rowan Williams have a lot to answer for, because they have put church unity before human rights,” he said.
ReplyDeleteSo succinctly put. Too bad those in authority can't see it so clearly....
I wanted to go and never got my act together. Almost everyone else I know was there. Can't wait for the face to face feedback.
ReplyDeleteWhere can we get a Peter Tatchell? We have some great gay activists, but no one quite like him.
ReplyDeleteOne Peter Tatchell is worth a stadium full of Ken Mehlmans.
ReplyDeleteCounterlight, I applaud courageous activists like Tatchell, but, in the end, along with supporting people like Tatchell, we must save ourselves - each of us doing our part, to bring about the Kingdom of God in the present time.
ReplyDeleteGuess most readers will be now have seen Episcopal Café's report of the letter apparently released by the provinces of Central and South Africa in response to the "CAPA Primates' Communiqué":
ReplyDelete"The majority of the African Provinces at this Conference are being ambushed by an agenda that is contrary to the beliefs and practices of our various Provinces. We have come to this Conference to share ideas on critical issues in the development of our continent and provide spiritual and moral leadership for our people.
Any thought of abandoning our Communion with any member of the body will hurt; for when one part of the body is injured the whole suffers. CAPA must not be used as a pawn in battles it is not party too. CAPA as you all know is not an organ of the Anglican Communion but a fellowship of Provinces of Africa. Therefore, issues of doctrine are better addressed as it has always been by individual provinces."
Lapin, I saw the article. I've got to run to the bank and do other errands, but I intended to post and link to the story of the letter by the courageous African primates later in the day.
ReplyDelete