When Will We Hear A Word?

From Savi Hensman at Ekklesia:

Every day millions of Christians pray, in the words of The Lord's Prayer, to be spared from being put to the test. For some in Uganda, where an anti-homosexuality bill is being put to parliament, this prayer may be especially deeply felt.

This extremely unpleasant proposed law targets not only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people but also human rights and AIDS prevention activists and people in positions of trust. While some in the church are backing the bill, other Christians face a challenge to the principles at the heart of their faith.
....

The bill also poses a challenge to those throughout the world with economic, social or political links to Uganda. This includes Christian leaders overseas who have helped to give credibility to homophobic Ugandan bishops and pastors while supposedly proclaiming a message of love and justice for all.
....

Sixty years ago, the Anglican Communion was at the forefront of the drive for universal human rights. Though commitment to rights for all, including LGBT people, has been repeatedly endorsed at international gatherings and many churches are passionately committed, it now tends to be referred to in vague terms by top leaders. But they will have to decide how to respond to this legislation, especially since their own Ugandan-born clergy and parishioners will be affected.

What they do, or fail to do, will affect their ability to witness to a God who does not abandon the abused and exploited. These are testing times.

And isn't it way past time for the top leaders in the Anglican Communion and the churches in the Communion to speak out against the pending legislation which is so obviously evil? How hard can it be for the leadership to make that decision? I've waited and waited for a word from Presiding Bishop Katharine or perhaps a joint statement from the bishops of the Episcopal Church. Why the delay? Do the powers fear offending the Ugandan bishops? Are they working diligently behind the scenes to have the legislation scrapped?

I feel shamed by the silence of our leaders about the cruel laws which may be imposed on our brothers and sisters in Uganda. To our leaders: Please speak out for "the abused and exploited". Please speak strong words against the horrors of the pending laws.

O Deus, Ego Amo Te

Tobias Haller at In a Godward Direction reflects on "Popular Religion: Risk and Opportunity". The post and the discussion that follows in the comments is fascinating. In one of his comments, Tobias quotes an excerpt from Gerard Manley Hopkins' poetic translation of a prayer in Latin by St Francis Xavier. I looked up the poem, and here it is in its entirety.

O Deus, ego amo te

O GOD, I love thee, I love thee-
Not out of hope of heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
In the everlasting burning.
Thou, thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach thine arms out dying,
For my sake sufferedst nails, and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death, and this for me,
And thou couldst see me sinning:
Then I, why should not I love thee,
Jesu, so much in love with me?
Not for heaven's sake;
not to be out of hell by loving thee;
Not for any gains I see;
But just the way that thou didst me
I do love and I will love thee:
What must I love thee, Lord, for then?
For being my king and God. Amen.

Lovely, isn't it?

Good News From Election Day

From the AP:

Houston won't know who its new mayor will be until next month.

City controller Annise Parker and former city attorney Gene Locke are headed to a runoff to become mayor of America's fourth-biggest city.

Parker, who would be the first openly gay mayor of Houston, collected nearly 31 percent of the vote Tuesday.

Locke, with 25 percent, topped architect and urban planner Peter Brown, who had nearly 23 percent.

Winning the runoff is not winning the election, but it's a start. Go Annise!

Thanks to Ann.

Very Sad News

From the Episcopate Committee, Regarding the Rev'd Kurt Dunkle

Dear Friends,

This morning, we learned from the Rev’d Kurt Dunkle of a terrible tragedy at his parish in Florida. It is now public knowledge that a parishioner killed his two children and then killed himself this morning. The children attended the day school and the wife (who was unharmed) is a secretary at the day school.

I spoke with Fr. Dunkle earlier today and assured him that the Diocese of Louisiana will lift him, his church, and the family so horribly traumatized by these events in prayer in the coming days.

Fr. Dunkle will make every effort to be in Louisiana to meet with the clergy on Friday and the laity on Saturday at the walkabouts, but we all most certainly understand that he will need to respond to this pastoral emergency as the situation continues to develop.

May the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Yours in Christ,
David Pitts
Chair, The Episcopate Committee

How tragic! Please pray especially for the wife and mother of this family, for all those who love them, for Fr. Dunkle, who is one of the candidates for bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, and for the parishioners of his church.

Receive, O Lord, your servants, for they return to you.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.

Wash them in the holy font of everlasting life, and clothe them in the heavenly wedding garment.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.

May they hear your words of invitation, “Come, you blessed of my Father.”

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.

May they gaze upon you, Lord, face to face, and taste the blessedness of perfect rest.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.

May angels surround them, and saints welcome them in peace.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.

Almighty God, our Father in heaven, before whom live all who die in the Lord: Receive our brothers and sister into the courts of your heavenly dwelling place. Let their hearts and souls now ring out in joy to you, O Lord, the living God, and the God of those who live. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
....

Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray thee, with all those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


(Book of Common Prayer, pp. 465-466, 489)

I Want Questions

I know. Most people want answers, but I want questions. This coming Saturday The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana scheduled Meet-the-Candidates-for Bishop Walkabouts

Saturday, November 7th 8am registration; 8:30am - 5pm Walkabout

* Episcopal High School, Baton Rouge

* St. Martin's Episcopal School, Metairie

God willing, I'll be in attendance at the meeting at St. Martin's School. I must be ready to leave at 7:00 AM, or I shall be left behind. I don't blame the driver of the car that I'll be riding in one bit. She knows my habit of tardiness, and she is not a morning person, either. She says, "If I can be there on time, you can be there." She's right.

What I'd like from you, my dear readers, is suggestions for questions to ask the candidates, if I get the opportunity to do so. I'm told that there will be a question period.

The names and biographies of the candidates may be viewed at the diocesan website.

Thank you.

O Canada!

Now that Vancouver will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking.

Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website.

Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto - can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)
A: No, but you'd better bring a few extra furs for trading purposes.

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada ? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Canada ? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada ? (England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-ma-ny, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA)
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

Thanks to Doxy.

Good News From Myron

Morning Everyone,

There is good news today. Myron passed his swallowing test this week, and that means the brain had healed a little more, and he can now eat. This is a major accomplishment because he can begin to put some weight back on. I think he has lost about 30-35 lbs, which is a lot for him. He was able to sign his name to a Social Security form for Mary Anne. She is now applying for disability benefits.

I will be seeing him today for the first time in two weeks, and I should be able to observe a change in him. I hope.

Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.

Sue

Good news, indeed! Myron can eat real food. Please continue your prayers for his further recovery.

Post-Halloween Joke

Little Johnny was on a park bench stuffing all of his Halloween candy in his mouth. An old lady came over and said. "Son, don't you know that eating all of that candy will rot your teeth, give you acne, and make you sick?"

"My grandfather lived to be 105 years old!" replied Johnny.

"Did he eat five candy bars at a sitting?" the old lady retorted.

"No," said Johnny, "but he minded his own freakin' business."

Thanks to that wise old dog, Clumber.

Apropos of the post below.

Another Embarrassment

An alert from MadPriest about another embarrassment that Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will inflict on the members of the Anglican Communion. Of course, the embarrassment is all the worse for the English (although the ABC is Welsh, but still English), because he is their own in a special way.

From The Local:

Anglican bishops from England and Northern Ireland have rebuffed invitations to attend the ordination of the openly gay Eva Brunne to be the next Bishop of Stockholm.

Five bishops from various levels within the Anglican Church, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, have decided not to attend the November 8th ceremony, the Dagen newspaper reports.

“The Anglican Church has a moratorium right now concerning the ordination of bishops who live together with someone of the same sex,” Alan Harper, a bishop from Armagh in Northern Ireland, told the newspaper.

On second thought, the decision is quite understandable. Since the Church of England has a moratorium on ordaining bishops with cooties and, as of now, is certified as cootie-free, there is a risk that the English bishops could be carriers of cooties when they return to England and Ireland from the ordination of a partnered lesbian bishop and - Horrors! - infect their entire church.

And the ABC is the leader of the pack, although how he came to be the alpha-male in any group of men is far beyond me.

And what about this?

Back in July, two UK bishops warned that allowing homosexuals to be married in Swedish churches would lead to “an impairment of the relationship” between the Church of England and the Church of Sweden.

What business it is of the English bishops to issue warnings to other churches about their local affairs? Wait! I forgot! The ABC models for the rest of the bishops how to interfere in the affairs of other churches. One only has to remember the many tongue lashes he directed to the Episcopal Church about bishops with gay cooties.

One wonders how the Church of Sweden will bear up under the threat of "the impairment of relationship" with the CofE.

"By The Rivers Of Babylon...."

From Harry Knox, director of Human Rights Campaign's religion and faith program:

“By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept…how could we sing the songs of Zion…?”

This morning I am wondering who and what I am. Once again, when American voters have had an opportunity to affirm my humanity and the loving commitment I have made to my husband, a majority of those voters have made a conscious decision to deny my humanity and treat me as if my citizenship and my marriage mean nothing; all the while patting themselves on the back for their piety. The slap they intended is received. I am made to wonder – Am I human? Am I an American? Am I a Christian? Am I married?
....

Most Maine voters want us to understand once and for all that the Bible, which has been used to subjugate women, people of color, and the poor of every gender and race is now to be used as a weapon against us. They have gleaned all they intend to learn from their faith and as far as they are concerned, my family can go to hell.
....

Today I am tempted to feel like an exile in my native land – to question who and what I am. But this I know: in the end it matters not one whit what others say or believe about me and mine. What matters, today and forever, is what we believe about ourselves. We are fully human. We are Americans. We are Christians. And we are most assuredly married.

A powerful and eloquent essay in a style of oratory that reminds me of Martin Luther King. Please read the entire essay. And never forget that the struggle is about human rights and "liberty and justice for all", as we say in the pledge of allegiance.

Thanks to Ann.

UPDATE: Susan Russell, who presided over the marriage of Harry and Mike, posted the entire essay at her blog.