FEDERAL LAWSUIT SEEKS RULING ON WHO IS BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Acting to protect the identity of the diocese he serves, the Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg filed suit in U.S. District Court today against Bishop Mark Lawrence, asking the court to declare that only vonRosenberg, as the bishop recognized by The Episcopal Church, has the authority to act in the name of the Diocese of South Carolina.

Having renounced The Episcopal Church, Bishop Lawrence is no longer authorized to use the diocese’s name and seal. By doing so, he is engaging in false advertising, misleading and confusing worshippers and donors in violation of federal trademark law under the Lanham Act, the complaint says. It asks the court to stop Bishop Lawrence from continuing to falsely claim that he is associated with the Diocese of South Carolina, which is a recognized sub-unit of The Episcopal Church.

Read the rest of the news about the litigation at the link.

Sounds about right to me, although I am no expert in the law, and I have no idea how the case will be decided.  I've wondered why the breakaway dioceses don't call themselves  "The Anglican Diocese of Whatever," since they claim to represent true Anglicanism, the faith handed down, which would be less confusing all around.  Or could it be that the blurring of boundaries and confusion is intentional?

My prayers and good wishes are with the bishop, clergy, and lay members of the continuing diocese during this difficult period.

IT'S TUESDAY

 

I remember those weeks when I was working outside my home.

ANOTHER JINDAL EDUCATIONAL "REFORM" DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL

One of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature laws that makes it harder for teachers to earn and retain a form of job protection, called tenure, was declared unconstitutional Monday.

State District Judge R. Michael Caldwell, of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, who in December upheld the tenure part of a sweeping education law, reversed himself after hearing new arguments from both sides.

Heh, heh.  Another of the hastily thrown together educational "reforms" is declared unconstitutional by a District Court judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The first "reform" to be declared unconstitutional was the funding of vouchers for private schools with money constitutionally allocated to public schools.  Of course, both decisions will be appealed, and who knows what will be decided by the Louisiana Supreme Court.  Still, it's another setback for the the governor (who is at 37% approval rating) and his enablers in the legislature.

State Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite and an opponent of the tenure law, said Monday that, during House debate on the measure, he and other opponents warned that it was legally flawed but that Jindal and his legislative allies “ramrodded it through.”

Edwards, a lawyer, is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and has said he plans to run for governor in 2015.

Thank you, Rep. Edwards.  You should know.  Good luck to you in your run for governor.

Jindal and his minions in the legislature want what they want and don't seem duly concerned about the constitutionality of the laws they pass.  What?  Us worry?

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS A PLAN

In his weekly address, President Obama tells the American people that a series of harmful budget cuts—called the sequester—have taken effect because Congress failed to act. Because Republicans in Congress refused to compromise to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans, hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their jobs or see their paycheck reduced, and middle class families will be hurt. Congress must join the President now to replace these cuts with a balanced approach that reduces our deficit while also making smart investments in areas that help our economy grow.

Watch the video here.

Why do Republicans, especially Speaker of the House, John Boehner, repeat over and over that the president is not exercising leadership and does not have a plan to end the sequester?

Read the plan here.

What's wrong with these people?  Say you don't like the plan; say you won't bring the plan to a vote.  But stop sounding so stupid by saying there is no plan, because you know damned well the president has a plan. 

THE POPE EMERITUS AT THE CASTLE

Pat Oliphant's latest cartoon on the pope in retirement.  Do click the link.  You won't be sorry.

ZACK KOPPLIN WITH BILL MOYERS

From the time he was a high school senior in his home state of Louisiana, Kopplin has been speaking, debating, cornering politicians and winning the active support of 78 Nobel Laureates, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the New Orleans City Council, and tens of thousands of students, teachers and others around the country. The Rice University history major joins Bill to talk about fighting the creep of creationist curricula into public school science classes and publicly funded vouchers that end up supporting creationist instruction.

I'm very proud of this young man who cared enough about science education to take on the political establishment and those who drive them to allow teaching nonsense science in taxpayer-funded schools in Louisiana. Zack gathered his own scientific establishment to rebut the scientific ignorance of the creationists - the young-earthers and deniers of the evolutionary process.  Believe whatever you wish, but if it's faith and not science, don't insist that it be taught in science class.

ULTIMATE ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE AD

Says it all. What can pro-gay marriage people be thinking?

Thanks to Paul (A.) for the link.

CARDINAL KEITH O'BRIEN ADMITS HE DID IT...

...and asks forgiveness.

A Scottish cardinal on Sunday acknowledged having engaged in unspecified sexual misbehavior, apologized for his actions, and promised to stay out of the church's public life in a statement that comes at an awkward time for the Vatican.
....

O'Brien initially rejected the claims, saying he was resigning because he did not want to distract from the upcoming conclave of cardinals that is due to pick a successor to Benedict XVI, who resigned the papacy Thursday. O'Brien also became the first cardinal to recuse himself from the conclave because of personal scandal; other voting-age cardinals have in the past stayed home because of infirmity or because they were prevented by their governments from participating.

On Sunday, the Catholic church in Scotland issued a statement quoting O'Brien as saying that there had been times "that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal."

"To those I have offended, I apologize and ask forgiveness," the statement continued. "To the Catholic church and people of Scotland, I also apologize. I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic church in Scotland."

There will be no basilica in Rome for Cardinal O'Brien.  How fraught the conclave to elect the next pope will be with pressure to assure that whoever is elected will not be accused of misconduct in the near or far future.  I pray that those who have secrets in their pasts that could shock or embarrass the church further will be honest enough to take themselves out of the running.  I have good friends who are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and I care about them and wish for them better and more peaceful times.  

WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS - FATS DOMINO

What can I say? I've fallen down on the job of posting Friday night with Fats Domino, so here's Saturday evening with Fats. You see, I like the alliteration in Friday with Fats, so the Saturday post is second best for me, but not for Fats in a video with pictures of himself and scenes of New Orleans.  My apologies to those of you who wait with bated breath for the Friday night music.

LOUISIANA DIOCESAN CONVENTION PASSES RESOLUTION ON GUN VIOLENCE

2013 Resolution R-2 AS PASSED

From: The Rev’d John H. Craft, Chaplain, Chapel of the Holy Comforter, and The Rev’d William H. Terry, Rector, St. Anna’s Church

Purpose: To Advocate for the Reduction of Gun Violence in America

Resolved, that the 176th Convention of the Diocese of Louisiana in response to the recent deaths from gun violence, including the loss of 28 of God’s children in Newtown, Connecticut, and escalating urban violence resulting in over 2,000 gun-related deaths since 2007 in Louisiana alone, commends and joins with other faith communities in an emerging moral consensus and with a prophetic voice by calling upon lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels to take the following steps:

(1) Recognizing the sanctity of life, we urge the support and adoption of state and federal firearms legislation to promote safety, education and responsibility in the purchase, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition.

(2) Recognizing the sanctity of life, we urge the support and adoption of tighter controls, including background checks,on all gun sales and purchases.

(3) Recognizing the sanctity of life, we urge the support of mental healthcare reform, including adequate funding and improved care.

(4) Recognizing the sanctity of life, we urge the support of programs and policies discouraging our culture’s glorification of violence.

And be it further resolved that the 176th Convention of the Diocese of Louisiana encourages all members of the diocese to work within our congregations through prayer, preaching, education, and advocacy, toward eliminating all violence that kills so many of God’s children in our nation.

Thanks to Ormonde at Facebook for the link to the text of the resolution.