Thursday, July 31, 2008

Human Rights in Lambeth

From Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow

.....now we have a published address from Rowan Williams.

At first sight, it seems reasonable enough. Indeed, he is making an honest attempt to hear and articulate the feelings and emotions of two hypothetical voices on either “side” of the debate.

The fact is, it is the conception of the Communion as having these two sides that is the real problem......

The things is, its all about human rights, Rowan. This is not just about the rights of gay and lesbian people in the US, it is about all of us. It is about the rights of people in all parts of the world to self expression, to practise their religion, to live freely with dignity before God. It is about the whole people of God, (you know, the laos, you must have heard of it, you’ve read a bit of theology) being able to speak in decision making in the church. It is about women and men being treated as equal human beings. It is about the western church standing up for persecuted brothers and sisters wherever they are. It is about having the confidence that Muslim and Anglican can live together in the same street and not attack one another.

Sometimes, that means standing up to bishops, such as condemning the inflamatory remarks made by Akinola connected with inter-religious rioting in Nigeria. We’ve not yet heard any condemation from the Lambeth Conference of the circumstances which caused the UK Government to offer political assylum to a gay Anglican this week because of the violence and persecution he could expect from his home church. That shames the whole church.

Read the whole thing. (hat tip to lapinbizarre)

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

And he says:

"We need human rights missionaries. We need to interfere in other jurisdictions until all God’s people are free and safe in their societies and in their churches."

Yes... workers are needed in the vineyard. Call it orthopraxy - doing God's work.

Frank Remkiewicz aka “Tree” said...

IT,
The vast majority of our communion does not yet "get it". We come from a very unique perspective. We also have a history of civil disobedience to get what is necessary done.

The other thing I do not understand is the issue of Matthew Shepherd (but one real life example). Talk about people put in danger? What about them?

David said...

Oh my, this is the best summation of the Great Anglican F*ckup I've seen!

The fact is, it is the conception of the Communion as having these two sides that is the real problem.

Beautifully on target. There aren't two, legitimate "sides" to this. It's life in the best sense (which for Christians is found in the Gospels) vs. death - sometimes figurative, and sometimes literal (see "gays and lesbians in Africa" or "Matthew Shepard"). To act as if one could find a compromise between these two just lends this death-view a legitimacy it doesn't deserve.

It's like inviting +Jack Iker to a conference of women priests, or a Klansman to a Civil Rights rally - as if their viewpoint had any value at all.

Leonard said...

It's like inviting +Jack Iker to a conference of women priests, or a Klansman to a Civil Rights rally - as if their viewpoint had any value at all...David

That about says it all...wow...but let's not forget inviting John Mercer Schofield to be Grand Marshall of the Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco, he and Pete Akinola can ride on the "Lower Than Pigs" special Nigerian "theme" float!

Brother David said...

...but let's not forget inviting John Mercer Schofield to be Grand Marshall of the Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco, he and Pete Akinola can ride on the "Lower Than Pigs" special Nigerian "theme" float

Pull them in a large farm wagon with two John Deere tractors. What a load of shit!

Counterlight said...

I must admit that there are days when I wonder who owns that picture of ++Rowan in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.

While Our Lord (who loves all His children very dearly and is always anxious for their welfare) may be all in favor of equal justice and a universal franchise, such things have always been opposed by the churches. Religious institutions have a vested interest in drawing a bright clear line between Us and Them, the Clean and Unclean, Elect and Damned, Believer and Infidel.
As many have pointed out so eloquently, this whole struggle is not about religion or faith, it is a political struggle. It is a struggle for control and identity. LGBTs are the convenient bogey du jour.

I've pretty much given up on that gathering of 700 power addicts and control freaks at Lambeth, and decided to spend my prayers on those who need them more urgently; LGBTs in Nigeria, for example, among many others left out in the endless struggles for power and domination here in The City of Destruction.

Anonymous said...

Off-topic good news (personal): I have another job interview! Yay! [Counterlight, COULD be coming back to the Big Apple]

Anonymous said...

JCF,
That is wonderful news! I'll keep praying for a successful interview.

Elizabeth

Leonard said...

JCF...this is huge, double prayers, big batches of whatever it takes, extra candles, promises/deals with God...I'll do it all to help out...BLESSINGS TO YOU!

Leonard said...

Back to Human Rights...please note the newest, yet never more ugly than the one that proceeds it, HATE CRIME in England...all while Rowan is trying to decide what's what and what isn't what at Church/beyond...I swear, the man/ABC is a complete knothead:

ttp://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/07/liverpool-boy-in-critical-condition-following-homophobic-beating/

Counterlight said...

"Counterlight, COULD be coming back to the Big Apple"

Alert Mayor Bloomberg!

JCF,
I'd be delighted to meet you here in a new home in Noo Yawk, "The Great Rome/ Of all who lost or hated home."
Come breathe the smoggy dusty air of Liberty!

Anonymous said...

jcf,

Bring money. :-)

As to Kelvin Holdsworth, it would seem that some are finally standing up and telling it like it is (see Susan Russell in today's Guardian if you haven't already at:)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/31/anglicanism.religion1

Ann said...

JCF -- great- continued prayers.

Anonymous said...

Counterlight, if you email me [jcf1962 at iwarp dot net], I'll tell you all the juicy details... (you may even be able to tell me something about this august institution of education *g*)

Thanks, everybody! (Now, just DON'T tell my dad---who doesn't me ANYWHERE but within a 50 mile radius of Sacramento...)

*****

Back on-topic: Lambeth sounds like it's actually getting somewhere (Not Sucky) one moment . . . and then going down the tubes the next.

Oy Vey: it's in God's Hands! (Let's hope there's not a maiming ;-0)

Counterlight said...

JCF,

Send me an email. Safari is returning my messages to you.

counterlight@earthlink.net