The Burglar Likes The Decor

From Andrew Plus at TrinEast in his post titled "On recent emanations from Rome":

To note what we share is not to say there isn’t a certain sting when we read the headlines. Benedict XVI has managed all at once to intrude into our own church’s internal struggles for a very narrow strategic purpose; insult the very validity of who we are; and, at the same claim to value what we offer. The move seems designed to divide us. Some may take joy in this, but I do not. It feels something like coming home to find that the burglar has left a note on the coffee table complimenting us on our decor.

The burglar bit is good, isn't it?

What I don't understand is how the Archbishop of Canterbury was gullible and naive enough to think that the pope viewed him in any way as an equal. In any negotiations, the give would be all on the ABC's side. In addition, consultation seems not to be a high priority for B16, as he did not even consult with his own English bishops, much less with Rowan, before he sprang his surprise invitation.

"Death Penalty For Homosexual Acts?"

Tim Chesterton, a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, who blogs at To See and to Follow posted on the response (or rather lack therof) of far too many churches in the Anglican Communion to the proposed laws in Uganda regarding gay and lesbian persons. I don't agree with everything that Tim says, but, to his credit, although he holds the "traditional view of sex, marriage, and homosexuality", he speaks out against the harsh laws which will very likely pass and the absence of the voices of the churches speaking against the laws.

Why are gay people seen as such a threat in Uganda? The bill states that its purpose is to protect the traditional family. How are gay people a threat to the traditional family? My daughter recently married her same-sex partner. I can assure you that my wife and I do not feel our marriage to be in any way under threat because of hers! Furthermore, I would suggest that if we want to find out what is threatening the traditional family we ought to look a little closer to home: having sex before you are married, living common law before marriage, or being the child of divorced parents are all factors that statistically increase your chances of going through a divorce yourself. Heterosexual people need to take a long hard look in the mirror before they blame gay people for the demise of the traditional family. We were doing that to ourselves long before anyone dared raise the question of gay marriage in public!

I suggest that you read the post in its entirety.

Story Of The Day - Dark Garden

I once had a garden filled with flowers
that grew only on dark thoughts but
they need constant attention & one day I
decided I had better things to do.


From StoryPeople.

Church Of Sweden - Marriage Is Gender Neutral

From the comments:

Göran Koch-Swahne said...

...Marriage was made Gender Neutral in Sweden by General Synod today slightly past 10.30 AM. 176 Ayes, 62 Noes, 11 Abstentions. Though you might like to know ;=)

Good news, indeed, Göran. Thanks for letting us know.

Sullivan Joins The Family

 

Murphy's family already has a new dog, a rescue Border Collie mix named Sullivan. Parkville Animal Shelter says of Sullivan:

Can you say "Happy Dog"?! That is exactly what Sullivan is. He is happy go lucky, loves to play fetch and wrestle with other dogs. He is around a year and a half old and is extremely smart. He would love a family where he could learn new skills and commands. He is very eager to please!

Sullivan is up-to-date with routine shots, house trained and spayed/neutered.

Sullivan made himself at home in the family of three adult humans, little Molly, who is four, two other dogs, and a cat. He truly is a happy dog.

The family are still grieving over Murphy, but they wanted another dog. When anyone asks Molly where Murphy is, she points up and says, "With Maman." (Her grandmother and my sister, Gayle) I choked up on that one.

Sullivan looks a little like our dog, Diana. I wish many happy days to Sullivan and his new family.

Episcopal Diocese Of Upper SC - Candidates

The Episcopal Diocese Of Upper South Carolina announced its candidates for the position of eighth bishop of the diocese.

The Very Reverend John B. Burwell
Rector, Church of the Holy Cross
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island
and I'on, South Carolina

The Reverend Canon Dr. Neal O. Michell
Canon to the Ordinary,
Episcopal Diocese of Dallas
Dallas, Texas

The Reverend David F. O. Thompson
Rector, St. Bartholomew's Church
North Augusta, South Carolina

The Reverend W. Andrew Waldo
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church
Excelsior, Minnesota

The Reverend Jerre Stockton Williams, Jr.
Rector, St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Kerrville, Texas

Videos of the candidates can be viewed from links at the diocesan website. Click on the names of the candidates to read their biographies. I have not had time to read the bios or watch the videos yet.

Thanks to Lapin for the link.

UPDATE: From the diocesan website:

At this point, we have one petition candidate whose picture and resume are posted here.

The Very Reverend Dr. Philip C. Linder
Dean, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Columbia, South Carolina

News From Albany

From Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany:

Diocesan Update

October 20, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

During its regularly scheduled October 5th meeting, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Albany passed a resolution endorsing the four sections of the Third (Ridley Cambridge) Draft of the Anglican Communion Covenant. In addition, the Standing Committee is recommending that the same or a similar endorsement be placed before the Diocesan Convention for adoption.

As the Bishop of Albany, I concur with the resolution passed by the Standing Committee and its recommendation that a similar resolution endorsing the Anglican Communion Covenant, (once it appears in its final form) come before the Diocesan Convention for approval. In preparation for that, in the coming months, we as a Diocese, will study and discuss the proposed Covenant in order that we can make an informed decision at Diocesan Convention. A copy of the Third (Ridley Cambridge) Draft of the Anglican Communion Covenant can be found on the Anglican Communion Official Website: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/commission/covenant/ridley_cambridge/draft_text.cfm Part four of the Ridley Cambridge Draft is currently under revision. By Thursday, we will have it posted on our website and any changes will be posted as we receive them.

The Reverend Paul Hartt, President of the Standing Committee, sent a letter to Archbishop Rowan Williams and The Reverend Canon Kenneth Kearon at The Anglican Communion Office, informing them of the Standing Committee’s endorsement of the Third (Ridley Cambridge) Draft of the Anglican Communion Covenant and their hope that it would be adopted by every province of the Anglican Communion. A copy of the letter was sent to Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori.

I conveyed my personal support of the Third (Ridley Cambridge) Draft of the Anglican Communion covenant, to Archbishop Rowan Williams and the Reverend Canon Kenneth Kearon when I and six other bishops of The Episcopal Church met with them seperately in London during a private meeting on September 1st.

Faithfully Yours in Christ,

+ Bill

UPDATE: From the comments:

Grandmere,
Some readers may be confused by the reference to the cathedral. Albany Via Media and members of the Cathedral of All Saints wanted to invite Joan Gunderson from the continuing Diocese of Pittsburgh to speak. Bp. Love got wind of it and said "no way!" So we were shut out, because the Bishop feared that the speaker would be critical of the Diocese of Albany. But we will find another venue and let you know when she is coming.
Faithfully,
John White
Diocese of Albany

Thanks for the clarification, John.

"what Rowan should have said? "

From Clayboy:

In the meantime I say only this: to all of you who are seeking reform in the search for a papacy exercised in charity and collegiality, to all of you who are seeking a faith that continues to update and renew itself from its ancient springs in the light of reason and the contemporary experience of God’s Spirit, to all of you wish to pray in your own language without being forced to conform to the past glories of a dead tongue, to all of you who seek to exercise ministry in service rather than power, to all of you who prefer the vesture of humility to arcane Renaissance pomp as re-envisioned by Prada, to all of you I say a warm welcome always awaits you around our altar tables. For however you treat us, we will still try to treat you as our brothers and sisters.

Now go read the rest at Clayboy's site. His real name is Doug Chaplin. He serves as an Anglican priest in Worcestershire, UK. Methinks he will not be amongst those who make the journey cross the Tiber to Rome.

Picture added by me.

Thanks to Tim and Ann for sending the link.

"Small Earthquake In Rome?"

From Bishop Alan's Blog:

Assimilating a lot of people who perhaps have struggled, and some might even say haven’t made a raging success of living within their own tradition, you’ll get two sorts of “convert”:

1. people who really should try out and perhaps are called by God to be part of the Roman tradition: Hip, hip, hooray!

2. people who aren’t terribly good at living in any tradition on anything but their own terms.

The second sort of convert will carry on inexorably being as they are, because it’s personality based and they can’t help it. This may not be good news for your own people. Where, for example, does it leave genuine Roman Catholic clergy who have faithfully and heroically struggled and somehow managed to live within their Church’s discipline, because they sincerely believed it was necessary, to know that Auntie in Rome is now doing a Post-Modern family promotion for married Anglicans, but you’re not invited? However delighted I was that Auntie is now being jolly and Post-Modern to the Anglicans, I’d hope she manages to find some way, after all these years, of being jolly and Post-Modern to me…

Aye, and that's the truth. And, of course, you should read Bishop Alan's post in its entirety.

Bishop Alan is Area Bishop of Buckingham in the UK.

Quote Of The Day - Tobias Haller

There's No Place Like Rome:

As Dorothy learned, of course, they always had the power to do so, as indeed many had, individually, before them. Just click the heels of the ruby slippers three times and say, "There's no place like Rome; there's no place like Rome; there's no place like..." And Anglicanism they will say, was just a colorful dream populated with familiar figures.

May they find peace in their new abode. I prefer this side of the Tiber Rainbow.

As I do.