THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK

The bashing of the Episcopal Church from certain quarters of the Anglican Communion (no names, of course), and, indeed, from within our very own church, continues due to our naughtiness in extending a measure of justice and equality to our LGTB brothers and sisters, thus we are presented with an excellent opportunity for a Lenten discipline: the practice of Jesus' admonition to turn the other cheek.

UPDATE: Thanks to Ann Fontaine for the link to Walter Wink's sermon on turning the other cheek, which I think is impressive and thought-provoking.

R. I. P. ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Elizabeth Taylor is so beautiful. I remember her in "National Velvet", which I saw when I was about 10 years old. Her beauty was nearly unbelievable to me. I wanted to look like her, even then. Elizabeth grew up gracefully, never passing through the awkward stage.


Then I remember "A Place in the Sun" with the marvelous Montgomery Clift, with whom Elizabeth remained dear friends as long as he lived. Indeed, she was in love with him, but, he was gay. Monty loved Elizabeth, too, but not the way she loved him. He did a damned fine job of acting the part of a man deeply in love in the film.

Elizabeth as Maggie the Cat in "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" is one of my favorites of her roles. She maneuvers Brick (Paul Newman) and Big Daddy (Burl Ives), until she gets what she wants.

"That girl's got life in her, alright."

Words that Tennessee Williams put into the mouth of Big Daddy have a permanent place on my sidebar.

"There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity...You can smell it. It smells like death."

What an emotional workout it was when Grandpère and I went to see "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" We felt battered and bruised when we left the theater after watching Elizabeth and Richard Burton verbally duke it out for a couple of hours. The movie caused us to cringe a bit, because it hit home in that we both realized that a good many of our own quarrels were unnecessary and served no useful purpose, except to upset us and those around us. For me, as a result of seeing the movie, I was inspired to try to do better.

Though Elizabeth may have been a bit confused at times about the direction of her life, as we all are from time to time, she was as good as she was beautiful. Don't fail to read Leonardo's moving post at Eruptions At the Foot of the Volcano about Elizabeth's early advocacy in the cause of AIDS. She was amongst the first of the Hollywood celebrities to jump in and call attention to and demand help for those suffering from AIDS and HIV.

Eternal rest grant unto Elizabeth, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

A BELATED ST PAT'S FUNNY

An Irish Man is sitting in the pub with his wife, and he says, "I love you."

She asks, "Is that you or the beer talking?"

He replies, "It's me talking to the beer."

Isn't that just like a man? And not just an Irishman!

Hey guys, don't blame me. Blame Doug.

IT'S NOT JUST THE DEEP WELLS...

From NOLA.com:

A large sheen of oil that has confounded the Coast Guard and state officials for days has been traced to a well-capping accident about 20 miles southwest of Southwest Pass, a state official said.

A state official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a continuing Coast Guard investigation, said the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries traced the emulsified oil to West Delta Block 117. He said tests by a state-contracted lab confirmed that was the source of the oil.

Wildlife and Fisheries officials found the source of the oil Monday evening and encountered workers in a boat trying to restore a cap on the well using a remotely operated submarine.

"Well-capping went out of control," the state official said.
....

At a news conference earlier Tuesday, Coast Guard officials said only between ¼- and ½-mile of beach was directly affected by oily material within the 30-mile stretch between Grand Isle and West Timbalier Island where the sheen and emulsified oil has been seen.

Why didn't the company that owned the well report the the accident? Why must the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries people and the Coast Guard play detective to find out where the oil is coming from?

Although, "only between ¼- and ½-mile of beach was directly affected by oily material", we may not yet know the end of the story.

UPDATE: From NOLA.com:

Responding to reports of a 10-mile-long slick from a second Gulf of Mexico oil spill, federal officials said "small amounts of oil" have been leaking from wells that were connected to a production platform destroyed during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

An average of less than 14 gallons per day have been leaking from the wells about 10 miles off the southeastern Louisiana coast, said Kendra Barkoff, a federal Interior Department spokeswoman.

Oh well. Just a small leak. The truth is that oil is always leaking into the Gulf, because the well caps tend to erode in the salt water. What? Me worry?

ON PROPAGATING CHANGE

From Bishop Gregory Cameron's article in support of the adoption of the Anglican Covenant by the churches in the Anglican Communion in Search; a Church of Ireland Journal:

Whilst this report criticises those who have propagated change without sufficient regard to the common life of the Communion, it has to be recognised that debate on this issue cannot be closed whilst sincerely but radically different positions continue to be held across the Communion. (The Windsor Report, para. 146)

And who are "those who have propagated change"?

Paragraph 146 of the Windsor Report states:

One of the deepest realities that the Communion faces is continuing difference on the presenting issue of ministry by and to persons who openly engage in sexually active homosexual relationships.

Could the answer be the Episcopal Church?

I must take issue with the phrase "have propagated change". The Episcopal Church has instituted changes within our own church that certain other churches deem offensive and unacceptable, but we have not pushed changes on other churches in the communion.

prop·a·gate - To cause to extend to a broader area or larger number; spread.

In my dreams, as an experiment, I'd like to see the Episcopal Church step back from official participation in the affairs of the AC for a season and watch to see if those who have absented themselves from communion gatherings return to the fold and if perfect peace descends upon the Anglican Communion once our troublesome presence is gone.

I'm sick to death of being blamed for all the troubles in the Anglican Communion, as well as the suggestions that we must be disciplined for our wayward ways, or, as others phrase it, lets "spank the Yank".

I'll leave it to my betters to take up the rebuttal of Bp Cameron's push for the adoption of the Anglican Covenant it's entirety, but I could not resist saying my piece on the accusation of propagating changes.

STORY OF THE DAY - RELATIVE WORRIES

I'm not worried about ghosts in general,
she said. Just the ones that are related
to me.

:-)

From StoryPeople.

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY DOLAN - GENIAL ENFORCER OF ROME'S CONSERVATIVE WRIT

From NewsBusters:

On Sunday's 60 Minutes, CBS correspondent Morley Safer interviewed New York Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan and pressed him on the his commitment to traditional Church teachings: "No question that you're conciliatory, that you like to have dialog, but underneath that you're an old-fashioned conservative. I mean, in the sense of right-wing conservative."

Dolan turned Safer's characterization around: "I would bristle at being termed 'right-wing.' But if somebody means enthusiastically committed and grateful for the timeless heritage of the Church, and feeling that my best service is when I try to preserve that and pass that on in its fullness and beauty and radiance, I'm a conservative, no doubt."

Our neighbor called to tell Grandpère to watch as Morley Safer interviewed Archbishop Dolan. GP called me into the room, and I wish I hadn't gone, because I felt a little ill during Abp. Dolan's performance during the interview. In my opinion, Safer went easy on the archbishop, however Safer did say:

Despite the jolly open demeanor, he's about as conservative as they come....He is unwavering on what he calls the 'settled' questions: abortion, birth control, ordination of women, gay marriage, and celibacy."

And that is that! All settled and done.

The "jolly open demeanor" was very much in evidence. Abp. Dolan smiled and laughed often, nudging and patting Safer on the shoulder. I told GP that he seemed very much like a salesman to me, which I suppose is what an archbishop is called to be in these troublesome times for the Roman Catholic Church, especially an archbishop who was recently elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The thing is, I'm not buying what he's selling.

SAFER: What do you make of the Church's response to the abuse scandals?

DOLAN: When you think of what happened, both that a man who proposes to act in the name of God would've abused an innocent young person, and that some bishops would have in a way, countenanced that by reassigning abusers, that's nothing less than hideous. That's nothing less than nauseating. The second story, Morley, is the Church's reaction to that, which I think has been good. It's been strong. It's been rigorous.(My emphasis)

I found the caveat, "in a way" quite troublesome. You either countenance child abuse, or you do not. There is no "in a way" that diminishes countenancing child abuse. The entire interview disturbed me a good deal. The phrase that ran through my mind as I watched and listened was, "De Nile is not just a river in Egypt." - not very original, I know, but there it is.

Abp. Dolan again:

Yeah, there would be – yes, I think there would be changes in the Church. But I don't think they're the ones you have in mind. I don't want to see changes in the Church when it comes to celibacy or women priests or our clear teaching about the sanctity of human life and the unity of marriage between one man and one woman forever. I'd love to see changes in the Church in the very area that you're hinting at over and over again, in the perception of the Church as some shrill scold. We need to change that. (My emphasis)

Well, for crying out loud, archbishop, the church needs to stop scolding! If the hierarchy would stop threatening with excommunication the Roman Catholics who disagree that the issues you mention are "settled" once for all, then the church might not be perceived as a "shrill scold".

After I wrote the words above, I saved them and left them, partly because I was quite busy with other matters. Then, too, when I departed from the Roman Catholic Church, I promised myself that I would not be a bitter ex-Catholic, obsessed with ranting against the church I left. I confess that I have not always been successful in my determination. My reaction to Abp. Dolan was visceral, and I know that we must examine our visceral reactions closely before we settle into their meaning for us. However, I also believe that to ignore our instincts is perhaps not the wisest path to follow.

For those reasons and because, as I've said, I was quite busy yesterday, I never completed the post. Then, through a link from MadPriest, I was led to Jan's post at A Church For Starving Artists on the interview. Jan's wise words, which I quote below, impressed me greatly.

One of the biggest spiritual issues of our day is the need to be with people in the throes of Real Life. It's tempting to be "the entertaining pastor" or the "funny pastor" or merely "the smart pastor." But the 21st C Church is sorely in need of the equipping pastor who models servanthood and compassion, the pastor who is unafraid to grapple with the deepest issues of our lives, the pastor who sees people with the eyes of Jesus.

Jan's entire post is well worth a read. I thank her for the push to complete the post - for better or for worse. If for worse, the responsibility is all mine and not Jan's.

More on the interview at CBS News.

Photo above from the New York Times article from February of this year on Abp. Dolan's election as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The article states:

Archbishop Dolan also does not outright deny the sacrament to dissenting Catholic lawmakers, but he is genial enforcer of Rome's ever more conservative writ.

UPDATE: Ann V. alerts me to the article in the Washington Post on a poll by the Post and ABC News:

The question was straightforward: “Do you think it should be illegal or legal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?” In February 2010, an astounding 55 percent of white Catholics said "legal." In the current poll, the number jumped 8 points to 63 percent.

My question is what about non-white Catholics?

Not that the poll will change any minds amongst the hierarchy.

"HAPPY NEW BIRTHDAY, CRISTY!"

From here to Istanbul:

Between 12:00 and 12:15, Istanbul time, Cristy’s stem cell transplantation happened. It took all of about 10 minutes. She is currently sleeping soundly and tomorrow will begin her regimen of walking the halls of the bone marrow transplant unit every two hours. She’ll be closely monitored over the next 10 days to ensure that the transplant is indeed working and that her body is building an entirely new autoimmune system. She has been told that the next few days will be difficult but that she will soon experience an upswing in her physical health as her system continues to regenerate itself. She likens this process to a complete oil change and refers to Dr. Gulbas as her master mechanic.

Posted by Sharon (on behalf of Liz)

GUMBO TIME IN THIBODAUX!

 

From the Daily Comet:

THIBODAUX — One of the city’s longest-running gumbo fundraisers is back for another year as St. John’s Episcopal Church continues its chicken-and-sausage gumbo sale.

Run by the Episcopal Church Women, the gumbo is sold from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday during Lent. The meal costs $8 and includes carrot or potato salad, French bread, iced tea and homemade dessert.

The fundraiser began more than 20 years ago when the church’s ladies were looking for an outreach program, said Nyada DeGravelles, a founding member.

The chief beneficiary is the local Good Samaritan Food Bank. The gumbo also serves to draw folks to St. John's to get to know us in the midst of an area that is heavily Roman Catholic.

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Co-Cathedral serves a seafood gumbo on Fridays, and the two congregations support one another in their fundraising efforts.

THE VIEW FROM "OVER HERE"

At Lesley's Blog, I learned that the Diocese of Lichfield in the Church of England voted in favor of the adoption of the Anglican Covenant by a comfortable margin.

BISHOPS: For: 4; Against: 0; Abstain: 0

CLERGY: For: 39; Against: 11; Abstain: 1

LAITY: For: 57; Against: 9; Abstain: 1

There you have it.

A summary of the con and pro arguments:

Arguments against were that it slowed down change, it is unnecessary bureaucracy, that Section 4 was more like a legal contract than covenant and was full of holes; that document was not really addressing the main issues - gay people, communication, interpretation of scripture - and was a red herring.

Arguments for were that the Episcopal church has been very naughty and needs punishing for the trouble it has caused; that good relationships with international colleagues are very important and the Covenant would keep them going; that Section 4 not really a very big stick; that Rowan is showing leadership and we need to back him; that they don't like Section 4 but is the only show in town so need to go with it. (My emphasis)

A comment to Lesley's post stated:

Unfortunately a lot of arguments for the Covenant seem to be based on the view that people don't want to be nasty to Rowan, and humiliate him. That seems to be a very weak argument in favour of something we could be stuck with for a very long time.

I agree wholeheartedly that not wanting to hurt or humiliate Dr Williams is a very weak excuse for supporting the daft covenant, and, being one of the naughty Episcopalians, I decided to leave a response at Lesley's blog, which is quoted here with slight editing:

If I may speak a few words about the election of Bp Gene Robinson. He was elected by the Episcopalians of the State of New Hampshire. He was not an unknown. He had served as a priest in NH, a very small state, for 12 years and was well-known in the churches around the state.

NH is not a hotbed of liberalism. At the present time, NH has one Democratic senator and one Republican senator. Both members of the House of Representatives are Republican.

Back in 2003, when Bp Gene was elected, I was not in favor of having partnered gay persons as bishops, but despite my misgivings, even I could not see why the people of NH shouldn't have the person they chose as their bishop. When the time came for consents to be given by the bishops and Standing Committees of the dioceses in the Episcopal Church, Bp Gene received sufficient favorable votes.

Have the English folk who are quick to blame us for all the troubles in the Anglican Communion and want TEC punished for its naughtiness (which, by the way, hardly seems Christlike to me) thought that there may have been other reasons for giving consents to Gene Robinson besides a lack of care for the other churches in the AC?

The truth is that we in TEC cherish our relationships throughout the Anglican Communion, some of which are extremely close. At the same time, we also cherish our relationships amongst the dioceses in our own church. If the people in NH wanted Bp Gene for their bishop, why should they have been denied, simply because the man they chose was in an open, loving, committed relationship with his partner Mark?

Sometimes, choices must be made, and the majority of those in TEC who voted on consents decided that the just and right thing to do was to give the folks in NH the bishop they wanted.

Of course, I'm well aware that the view from "over there" may be quite different, but I wanted to speak my piece from "over here".