Saturday, February 4, 2012
paradoxymoron on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: Yeah, whew! We have this bishop called Mark Lawrence, and he has specific beliefs. Wait until you hear that story!
paradoxymoron on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: Those in leadership of a religious organization are not allowed to have specific beliefs?  Why, that’s how the leadership of my denomination (The Episcopal Church)came…
dwstroudmd+ on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: “At the center of debate is the university’s nondiscrimination policy, which bans student-led faith groups, among others, from requiring leaders to hold specific beliefs.” Apparently…
Spiro on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: Just as soon as I posted the above comment #40, here comes the Vanderbilt story on their new policy and conservatives that are affected by…
Spiro on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: SC Blue Cat Lady, I hear you. I understand the situation in SC and some few other instances where conservatives have shown some back-bone .…
Judith L on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: I’m wondering if the info on embryonic stem cell research isn’t out of date.  I can’t remember the details, but a research organization here in…
Nellie on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: This is crazy - hopelessly illogical. If Christian groups can’t require their leaders to have certain beliefs, then why bother havng a Christian group? And…
Going Home on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: I looked at the list, which includes those bodies that support emb. stem cell research. It seems to include every major research organization, from the…
Jill Woodliff on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: Pat Dague at Transfigurations posted on the charities that support Planned Parenthood and embryonic stem cell research.
Betty See on Christ Church Episcopal Seeks Contempt Against Sister Congregation: “ But after the breakaway congregation refused to either relinquish ‘all property, real and personal, tangible and intangible’ as granted by the Court, or to…
Chazaq on Friday Refresher: Military Wives Choir: God bless these women and their husbands. Amen.
robroy on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: The Christians need to all join the radical feminist group - change its bylaws to condemn abortion, support traditional marriage, etc.
robroy on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: I am with Sarah. This is a big black eye on Susan Komen and Planned Parenthood. The back and forth about, it’s because they do…
RMBruton on After Cutting Ties with Planned Parenthood, Komen Donations up 100 Percent: You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “rush to judgement” now you’ve experienced “rush to support”. No refunds, no returns, all sales final.
AnglicanXn on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: And I suppose they tell their Young Democrats to allow Republicans to join - even to be eligible for office. It used to be said…
Bill2 on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: Well of course not.  That would make too much sense.  That would be like serving wiener schnitzel at the German club.  Why not force them…
Nikolaus on Susan G. Komen Foundation Backs Down; Will Resume Funding of Planned Parenthood: Sadly SC blue cat lady, I think you a citing an exception where as Fr. Kingsley is closer to the point.  It’s just to damn…
Greg Sample on Vanderbilt University: Christian Led Groups Can't Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs: Vandy’s school of theology is just as lib as Sewanee’s down the road.  Not surprising in the least.
Nikolaus on Sen. Rubio: America Cannot Fulfill Its Destiny Unless It Ends Abortion: I’m actually glad he did not run from POTUS this year.  One of Obamma’s biggest mistakes - and that of his supporters - was assuming…
Costanoan on Sen. Rubio: America Cannot Fulfill Its Destiny Unless It Ends Abortion: I think Mitt Romney, should he be the Republican nominee, would be well advised to work out some accommodation with Senator Rubio to overcome the…
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Gimme Shelter: Episcopal Bishop vs. Christian Ministry to the Homeless

Saturday, October 18, 2008 • 9:08 am

Faith McDonnell:

It sounds like a match made in heaven.

Central Union Mission, which since 1884 has been providing social and spiritual services to Washington, D.C.’s homeless and those battling addictions, needs to relocate by October 2009.  The government of the District of Columbia needs to utilize successfully its Homeless No More initiative as well as spur business and residential development in key areas of the city.  So the District government is giving Central Union Mission the Gales School, a historic school building near Union Station.  In exchange, the mission is giving the District three adjacent parcels of land on Georgia Avenue and Newton Place, a key area of the city.  A win-win situation?

Enter opponents waving the banner emblazoned with “separation of church and state” to forbid the planned agreement between the D.C. government and Central Union Mission.  They are suing the District government to stop the transaction and deprive the mission of the property.  The attorneys are the usual suspects, the ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

Somewhat startling, but not really surprising, is the identity of the lawsuit’s head plaintiff.  Topping the list of eight plaintiffs is the bishop of the Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane.  Chane, a Bostonian a’ la M.A.S.H.’s Charles Emerson Winchester III, leads a cast of characters who could cheer the heart of any community organizer.
...
Bishop Chane is paying scrupulous attention to the “jots and tittles” of First Amendment law, wanting to prove that the District of Columbia government is making an illegal gift to Central Union Mission.  Sadly, he is missing the true gift of transformed, clean and sober citizens that Central Union Mission is giving to the city.


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Comments:

This makes me so sick….Couldn’t this be considered a transaction? The gov’t isn’t just giving the school away.

[1] Posted by Matthew Moore on 10-18-2008 at 08:40 AM • top

A very good article Faith. This is very sad, may the Lord make a way and give true justice.

[2] Posted by Hosea6:6 on 10-18-2008 at 08:49 AM • top

WAIT A MINUTE! Isn’t John Chane’s cathedral called The National Cathedral”? Isn’t it chartered by Congress? Is that not shamefully hypocritical?

[3] Posted by A Senior Priest on 10-18-2008 at 09:01 AM • top

Why not just give the National Cathedral to the homeless?  I hear there is a lot of empty, wasted space there.

[4] Posted by PROPHET MICAIAH on 10-18-2008 at 09:02 AM • top

Yes, just leave it unlocked at night and let them sleep in.

[5] Posted by RoyIII on 10-18-2008 at 09:05 AM • top

#3 A Senior Priest,
That’s TEc…the Hypocritical church!

[6] Posted by TLDillon on 10-18-2008 at 09:55 AM • top

Is there any other reason than the Church and State issue that could be at play. This is unbelievable. Of course they could claim the property for TEC and just take it in the name of the PB…

[7] Posted by FrVan on 10-18-2008 at 10:55 AM • top

Let’s propose a new canon at GC09-
Title IV, Canon 10:
In those cases in which their is conflict between the interest of the state and the interest of the church, bishops shall be required to represent the interest of the church.  To represent the interest of the state in a way detrimental to the mission of the church is an abandonment of the communion of this church.

[8] Posted by tjmcmahon on 10-18-2008 at 11:02 AM • top

I think that maybe, since Chane has successfully cowed the clergy in his diocese, and therefore has no parishes to sue, that he is reaching out to sue other denominations.

[9] Posted by tjmcmahon on 10-18-2008 at 11:04 AM • top

This is so symbolic of the moral corruption and base hypocracy of TEO and its leadership.

[10] Posted by Nikolaus on 10-18-2008 at 11:33 AM • top

One could have a church-state issue over the fact it’s the ‘national’ cathedral.

[11] Posted by RoyIII on 10-18-2008 at 11:49 AM • top

As much fun as ripping “National Cathedral” away from +Chane, the name “National Cathedral” is just a nick-name.  While it is chartered by Congress, I don’t believe there is any actual state sponsorship.  BTW, the official name of the Cathedral is “The Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul.”

[12] Posted by Justin Martyr on 10-18-2008 at 02:51 PM • top

Now, now, they already had to give up their greenhouse due to funding issues.  You want ‘em to hand over the national Cathedral for homeless folks?!  Really, that would be a lot like implementing an MDG instead of giving 0.7% to lobby the government to give to the MDGs.  Really.  And you think an Episcopal bishop would have the gonads for that sort of obedience?  I am shocked.

[13] Posted by dwstroudmd+ on 10-18-2008 at 05:19 PM • top

Wait, now, which MDG is it that requires the Diocese of Washington DC to kick American Homeless people out on the street?  SO, would it be ok if Chane gave them mosquito nets?  Condoms?  How about one of those trucks that drill water wells?  Then could we let the homeless in DC sleep indoors?

PHIPS!....KTF!...mrb

[14] Posted by Mike Bertaut on 10-19-2008 at 03:20 PM • top

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