From TPM:
Facing a massive lawsuit, the U.S. Justice Department is opting to give a $5.8 million settlement to Steven Hatfill, the bio-weapons expert publicly tagged as a "person of interest" in the anthrax-in-the-mail scare from October 2001.
....
Hatfill, whose lawsuit against the New York Times was dismissed last year, will receive the lump sum of about $2.825 million and the government will also purchase for him a $3 million annuity that will pay him $150,000 each year for 20 years, DOJ said.
Once word got out that Hatfill was "a person of interest", he was terminated at Louisiana State University, where he worked at the National Center for Biomedical Research. The person who hired him at LSU was fired, too.
By the way, who did send out the envelopes that contained anthrax? No one charged, no one convicted, leaving unsolved a terrorist attack in the US. Why don't the Democrats remind everyone that the case languishes in the hands of the incompetent minions of Bush maladministration? And Bin Laden is still loose. Remember him?
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Chicago Consultation
What is the Chicago Consultation?
The Chicago Consultation, a group of some 50 bishops, clergy and lay people, supports the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
....
Our Goals
* To strengthen the movement toward the blessing of same sex relationships.
* To advance the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians in all orders of ministry.
* To strengthen the Anglican Communion’s witness against racism, poverty, sexism, heterosexism, and other interlocking oppressions.
The site provides news, such as:
In advance of next month’s Lambeth Conference, the Chicago Consultation has arranged for every bishop in the Anglican Communion to receive a copy of Other Voices, Other Worlds by Terry Brown, Bishop of Malaita in the Church of the Province of Melanesia and Convenor of the Anglican Way group of the Anglican Primates' Theological Education for the Anglican Communion Task Force.
The book offers essays by faithful Anglicans from around the globe who reflect theologically on human sexuality, an issue causing conflict within the Communion.
A section called Making the Case includes essays such as "Shaking the Foundation" by the Reverend Canon Marilyn McCord Adams. An excerpt:
In any event, ‘homophobia’ is no mere expletive, as if a loaded emotive term with no cognitive content. I use it advisedly, with a rather precise meaning: homophobia is the fear that I cannot exist and flourish as who I really am if others come out of the closet about being LGBT. So understood, homophobia is an instance of the false conviction that I cannot be as big as I really am (cannot stand up to full stature) unless others pretend to be smaller than they really are—a thesis that is ancient, dishonorable, and directly counter to the Gospel!
Further, it includes "The Sex Articles"
—a series of reflections on where we stand by The Rev. Tobias Stanislas Haller Vicar BSG, Saint James Episcopal Church Fordham.
I read the essays as Tobias posted them one by one on his blog, and they are excellent, well worth a read.
The Mulitmedia section includes a clip from the first meeting of the group.
I'm pleased to have this sort of information gathered together on one website. Those of us on the progressive/inclusive side have not always done the best job of making our case. This site should prove quite helpful, especially for people like me, without theological or Scriptural studies expertise.
Thanks to Tobias Haller, a member of the group, for the link.
The Chicago Consultation, a group of some 50 bishops, clergy and lay people, supports the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
....
Our Goals
* To strengthen the movement toward the blessing of same sex relationships.
* To advance the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians in all orders of ministry.
* To strengthen the Anglican Communion’s witness against racism, poverty, sexism, heterosexism, and other interlocking oppressions.
The site provides news, such as:
In advance of next month’s Lambeth Conference, the Chicago Consultation has arranged for every bishop in the Anglican Communion to receive a copy of Other Voices, Other Worlds by Terry Brown, Bishop of Malaita in the Church of the Province of Melanesia and Convenor of the Anglican Way group of the Anglican Primates' Theological Education for the Anglican Communion Task Force.
The book offers essays by faithful Anglicans from around the globe who reflect theologically on human sexuality, an issue causing conflict within the Communion.
A section called Making the Case includes essays such as "Shaking the Foundation" by the Reverend Canon Marilyn McCord Adams. An excerpt:
In any event, ‘homophobia’ is no mere expletive, as if a loaded emotive term with no cognitive content. I use it advisedly, with a rather precise meaning: homophobia is the fear that I cannot exist and flourish as who I really am if others come out of the closet about being LGBT. So understood, homophobia is an instance of the false conviction that I cannot be as big as I really am (cannot stand up to full stature) unless others pretend to be smaller than they really are—a thesis that is ancient, dishonorable, and directly counter to the Gospel!
Further, it includes "The Sex Articles"
—a series of reflections on where we stand by The Rev. Tobias Stanislas Haller Vicar BSG, Saint James Episcopal Church Fordham.
I read the essays as Tobias posted them one by one on his blog, and they are excellent, well worth a read.
The Mulitmedia section includes a clip from the first meeting of the group.
I'm pleased to have this sort of information gathered together on one website. Those of us on the progressive/inclusive side have not always done the best job of making our case. This site should prove quite helpful, especially for people like me, without theological or Scriptural studies expertise.
Thanks to Tobias Haller, a member of the group, for the link.
The Annals Of Stupidity
Decorated Army Sergeant Darren Manzella has been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from military service, effective June 10. The Iraq war veteran was the first openly gay active duty service member to speak with the media while serving inside a war zone.
Mike in Texas has more on the story of Sergeant Manzella, who served honorably in Iraq, but was discharged because of the stupid "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the US military. His commanders and his fellow soldiers knew that he was gay, nevertheless, the bureaucracy knew best. He had to go.
Mike in Texas has more on the story of Sergeant Manzella, who served honorably in Iraq, but was discharged because of the stupid "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the US military. His commanders and his fellow soldiers knew that he was gay, nevertheless, the bureaucracy knew best. He had to go.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Failure To Condemn Violence "Disgraceful"
From Ekklesia:
The head of the Church Army, a leading Anglican mission agency with a significant evangelical constituency, has expressed his distress at the failure of two Anglican archbishops [Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria and Henry Orombi of Uganda] to clearly condemn violence against gay people.
The remarks come in the personal blog of Mark Russell, the youngest ever Chief Executive of Church Army, which deploys over 350 evangelists working across Britain and Ireland.
Mark Russell says:
Growing up in Northern Ireland you see how leaders not talking divides communities. Yet now when leaders do talk and work together, despite their differences, communities have more opportunity to come together. I believe passionately our bishops should ALL be at Lambeth working out how to move our Communion forward, to further the Gospel and show Christ to the world.
I know many bishops in England who do not agree with everything other bishops say, or do not agree with some of the things they have done, but are committed to being together, to pray together, and to seek to demonstrate Christian love to their flocks. I commend them for their leadership and Godly example. It is in marked contrast to some bishops at GAFCON who refused to condemn violence against gay people in their home countries. Quite honestly that is disgraceful, it sullies their cause, and is totally un-Christian. You cannot justify violence in God's name. Period. (My emphasis)
Amen to that!
Link to the Ekklesia article from The Lead at the Episcopal Café.
The head of the Church Army, a leading Anglican mission agency with a significant evangelical constituency, has expressed his distress at the failure of two Anglican archbishops [Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria and Henry Orombi of Uganda] to clearly condemn violence against gay people.
The remarks come in the personal blog of Mark Russell, the youngest ever Chief Executive of Church Army, which deploys over 350 evangelists working across Britain and Ireland.
Mark Russell says:
Growing up in Northern Ireland you see how leaders not talking divides communities. Yet now when leaders do talk and work together, despite their differences, communities have more opportunity to come together. I believe passionately our bishops should ALL be at Lambeth working out how to move our Communion forward, to further the Gospel and show Christ to the world.
I know many bishops in England who do not agree with everything other bishops say, or do not agree with some of the things they have done, but are committed to being together, to pray together, and to seek to demonstrate Christian love to their flocks. I commend them for their leadership and Godly example. It is in marked contrast to some bishops at GAFCON who refused to condemn violence against gay people in their home countries. Quite honestly that is disgraceful, it sullies their cause, and is totally un-Christian. You cannot justify violence in God's name. Period. (My emphasis)
Amen to that!
Link to the Ekklesia article from The Lead at the Episcopal Café.
Words To Live By, No?
But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ Matthew 20:25-28
From today's Gospel in the Lectionary.
From today's Gospel in the Lectionary.
"Amazing NASA Picture of Water on Mars"
With gratitude to Doug. I simply had to steal this from OCICBOV. It struck my funnybone, and I could not resist. As I said over there, "Doug, I love it. That's my kind of humor - easy to understand, no brain strain involved."
The other commenters were not nearly so kind. I hope that Doug's contribution receives a gentler reception here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
From Our Friend Luiz Coelho
Dear friends in Christ,
I would like to invite you all to visit my new blog/visual lectionary/fundraising effort EIKON.
As some of you already know, I have been chosen to be a steward at the upcoming Lambeth conference, representing the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil. For the last few years, I have been discerning a call to the religious life which involves the use of visual arts as a means for healing and reconciliation. Currently, I am pursuing a dual degree both in Painting (at the Savannah College of Art and Design) and in Theology (through the long-distance program of the Seminário Teológico Egmont Machado Krischke).
During the Lambeth Conference, I will be producing a series of pieces (paintings, drawings, photographs, collages, etc.) based on the "Signs on the Way" Bible studies series, which is a special series of studies for the Conference. Those images will be posted on such blog, as a visual devotional. The blog is also a fundraising effort. Half of the price of each piece will be redirected to the Archdeaconry of Western Rio, which comprises 5 churches and is located in the poorest area of the city.
If you find it a good idea, please help me by spreading the word and talking about this initiative with your friends.
Thank you very much. Blessings in Christ!
--
Luiz Coelho
--
luizcoelho@luizcoelho.com
http://www.luizcoelho.com
--
"No to hate and yes to love,
No to death and yes to life,
No to falsehood and yes to truth,
No to oppression and yes to justice,
No to cruelty and yes to mercy,
No to violence and yes to the path of peace,
No, no matter what it may cost, and yes, no matter what it may cost.
For you are the source of love leading to reconciliation and forgiveness."
(a Sabeel prayer - http://www.sabeel.org)
--
"Não ao ódio e sim ao amor,
Não à morte e sim à vida,
Não à falsidade e sim à verdade,
Não à opressão e sim à justiça,
Não à crueldade e sim à misericórdia,
Não à violência e sim ao caminho da paz,
Não, não importa o que custe, e sim, não importa o que custe.
Pois és a fonte de amor que leva à reconciliação e perdão."
(uma prece de Sabeel - http://www.sabeel.org)
I would like to invite you all to visit my new blog/visual lectionary/fundraising effort EIKON.
As some of you already know, I have been chosen to be a steward at the upcoming Lambeth conference, representing the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil. For the last few years, I have been discerning a call to the religious life which involves the use of visual arts as a means for healing and reconciliation. Currently, I am pursuing a dual degree both in Painting (at the Savannah College of Art and Design) and in Theology (through the long-distance program of the Seminário Teológico Egmont Machado Krischke).
During the Lambeth Conference, I will be producing a series of pieces (paintings, drawings, photographs, collages, etc.) based on the "Signs on the Way" Bible studies series, which is a special series of studies for the Conference. Those images will be posted on such blog, as a visual devotional. The blog is also a fundraising effort. Half of the price of each piece will be redirected to the Archdeaconry of Western Rio, which comprises 5 churches and is located in the poorest area of the city.
If you find it a good idea, please help me by spreading the word and talking about this initiative with your friends.
Thank you very much. Blessings in Christ!
--
Luiz Coelho
--
luizcoelho@luizcoelho.com
http://www.luizcoelho.com
--
"No to hate and yes to love,
No to death and yes to life,
No to falsehood and yes to truth,
No to oppression and yes to justice,
No to cruelty and yes to mercy,
No to violence and yes to the path of peace,
No, no matter what it may cost, and yes, no matter what it may cost.
For you are the source of love leading to reconciliation and forgiveness."
(a Sabeel prayer - http://www.sabeel.org)
--
"Não ao ódio e sim ao amor,
Não à morte e sim à vida,
Não à falsidade e sim à verdade,
Não à opressão e sim à justiça,
Não à crueldade e sim à misericórdia,
Não à violência e sim ao caminho da paz,
Não, não importa o que custe, e sim, não importa o que custe.
Pois és a fonte de amor que leva à reconciliação e perdão."
(uma prece de Sabeel - http://www.sabeel.org)
We're New Orleans Bound
Today we're going to New Orleans to meet my daughter and have lunch at La Vita, an Italian restaurant near City Park. It's a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, but it serves excellent food. Below is the bar, made of what appear to be old, unretouched barn boards. It's a little funky, a typical New Orleans place.
Before we go to lunch, we'll say "hello" to my daughter's exotic chickens. These are the young ones, which have not yet begun to lay. Look at the feathered feet on the white hen. I've never seen that before.
Below are the old hens (like me) who are now retired from their laying jobs. My daughter lives in an unincorporated area of suburban Jefferson Parish, where the rules are less restrictive about what kind of pets are permitted. One of the old hens laid green eggs in her younger days, so my grandsons were able to have green eggs and ham.
Au revoir, mes amis. À ce soir.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
100,350 Visitors - Thank You!
I meant to note the turning of the counter to 100,000, but I forgot. It's now at 100,350. Thanks to all the visitors who have helped me to get to that number in one and a half years of blogging. Especially, thank you to the regulars who make return visits. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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