Time Magazine - Crunch Time on Gays for Anglican Archbishop

Awkward as it may be for an outsider to intrude in the doings of a country or a church that is not his own

Then why does this bloke think that he has any business giving Peter Akinola ultimatums such as this?

Akinola either needs to …

The American experiment is to minimize overtly religious influence on the specifics of public policy, while allowing relgious bodies to practice their distinctives with little to no public interference.  This is not always intellectually or ideologically satisfying, but it is pragmatic toward keeping the peace and, IMO, delivers the Christian church from much of the historical temptation to impose its presence via the state.
That being said, I wish that the Province of Nigeria would say, “The church teaches that homosexuality is a sin, and we discipline our members who violate church teachings.  But it is not the way of Jesus to use the force of the state to impose his way on anyone, believer or nonbeliever.”  I think that message is right (true to the mind of Christ), and it also distinguishes the church from Islam, which is coercive and which does not properly regard Jesus.
Yes, I am writing with an American cultural bias.  But I do believe that we have some good things to share with the world, despite our flaws. 
I also find it impossible to invalidate the amazing missionary effort that is the Province of Nigeria.  Yes, I would like them to be more “American” about these laws…but I would also like TEC to be more Christian and less American in its ways.

The “battle” between orthodox and revisionists in the Episcopal church is a battle for hearts and mind—not a physical battle or even, for the most part, a legal battle.  The perceived relationship between this legislation, Archbishop Akinola, and the American orthodox parishes is a very very serious blow in this battle.  You may rationalize it away any way you like, but this could be a fatal blow if something isn’t done to deal with it.  If US bishops thought it was worth it to fly to Tanzania to strategize with Archbishop Akino during the Primates meeting, they need to treat this situation AT LEAST as seriously or it is going to blow up in their faces.

Re: “The perceived relationship between this legislation, Archbishop Akinola, and the American orthodox parishes is a very very serious blow in this battle.”

Why?

Re: “The perceived relationship between this legislation, Archbishop Akinola, and the American orthodox parishes is a very very serious blow in this battle.”

Why?

Because there is a very important PR element to this battle and this is a huge PR blow, if nothing else.  If you don’t see that you may be “as innocent as doves” but definitely not as “wise as serpants.”

re: “as innocent as doves”

Recall my leading phrase, “I have a question that may appear to be naive,” (i.e., I suppose as naive as I might actually be)

So, you ARE saying that we need to go ahead and run with the idea that this is about a human right. If so, I’m feeling a bit railroaded. But, don’t let me put words in your mouth.  I’ll be back on-line tonight.

Most US states had, or have, laws on their books that had the effect of making homosexual physical acts illegal. Many were written in a way that made enforcement capricious, and for the most part these laws had not been enforced long before they were invalidated by the US Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas. 

Twenty-six states continue to have anti-adultery laws on the books. They are not enforced, and the only practical effect of these laws is to allow a party engaged in adultry to avoid testifying about the details by asserting the Fifth Amendment in court proceedings.

Does the state have a legitimate interest in placing limits on private sexual behavior of its citizens?  For over one hundred and fifty years there was a political consensus in the US that it did.  That political consensus has been lost in the US, and the pendulum has now swung to where we are now debating whether such relationships should recieve   favored   status under our laws. 

Andy, I do not believe it is a basic human right and should not be endorsed by Government. However, I also believe that, absent other factors affecting the public (public indecency, etc.), this is an area that should not be criminalized.  For a number of reasons, I oppose the idea of incarcerating individuals for private sexual acts between consenting adults. 

But I do believe societies have the right to prohibit behavior that is reasonably tied to the protection of society as a whole.  We make those judgements in the US all the time, with our drug consumption laws being a good example.  I hope that as Nigeria grapples with this legislation it removes the draconian criminal penalities.

I am a big fan of Akinola and the other Global South Bishops. But eventually the US Anglicans must stand on their own and do the right thing regardless of the voting majority in the Anglican Communion. If our future, our leadership, our hope, is linked to anyone other than Jesus Christ, that person will eventually disappoint us.

Note, though, that the legislation also points to anyone who condones or actively speaks out for homosexuality, not just those participating in the act. Argue the nature of some sexual “right” all you want, but to lock up those who are only expressing support or opinions that run against the establishment…

Well, lets just say you wouldn’t have Stand Firm in the first place. So keep that in mind… to me, that’s the truly inhuman nature of the legislation that +Akinola needs to address.

Note, though, that the legislation also points to anyone who condones or actively speaks out for homosexuality, not just those participating in the act. Argue the nature of some sexual “right” all you want, but to lock up those who are only expressing support or opinions that run against the establishment…

Simply wrong. Get yourself a text of the legislation. There’s nothing in it about people who might condone or speak out in behalf of homosexual practice.

The law prohibits 1) homosexual marriage, 2) homosexual pornography (the representation of homosexual acts), and 3) the *registration* of homosexual organizations by officials of any educational institution or the Government of Nigeria. The last of these has been interpreted as forbidding the right of free assembly. I don’t see how it can be read as such. Other even more bizarre interpretations have appeared in the media.

Why not raise a ruckus over the Sudan and Darfur where real people are really being killed.  This whole issue is nothing.  It is merely a propaganda move to create sympathy for the “oppressed” in America.  If you don’t believe me, just look at recent visitors to the National Cathedral under the auspices of the Episcopal Peace and Justice lackeys.  Khatami’s ISLAMIC government routinely executes gays.  No outcry about that.  This is all fluff and nonsense.  Nigeria can make its own laws.  I bet if it was imposing Sharia no one would notice.

Timothy, thank you for the analysis.  I, too, tend towards a libertarian outlook on criminalizing many behaviors, which doesn’t necessarily make said behaviors right or harmless.  However, it seems at least arguably reasonable for ++Akinola to support legislation in his own country that is reasonably for the common welfare of their citizens as a whole, UNLESS one takes the position that the prohibited behavior is a basic human right, which I do not.  Although I strongly agree with your closing comment, I continue to hold ++Akinola in the highest respect and regard and I am thankful more than I can say for his leadership in these difficult times.

I bet if it was imposing Sharia no one would notice.

You’re right, and in the Hansa area they largely have.  Like you said, we’ve not heard a peep.

Time Magazine’s not the only chronicle of further moral devolution within the ECUSA:  This following article appeared in the Greenfield (MA) Recorder yesterday. It’s about Grace Episcopal Church, a parish I considered rejoining, but no longer. The reporter writes for the Daily Hampshire Gazette, (Northampton, MA). I suspect the Gazette story ran the same day.
  This is one of those trendy acts you know were bound to happen sooner than later, especially in (five-alarm) flaming liberal towns like Amherst, MA. Still, the local looniness doesn’t afford this parish any mitigating excuses.  Grace Episcopal is getting out of the wedding business because if gays can’t be married or blessed, then nobody can. Get your stomach pills out:
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3/12/2007 10:20:00 AM Email this article • Print this article
Grace Church stands up for homosexuals

NICK GRABBE
Gazette Staff Writer

AMHERST -Declaring a “holy fast,” Grace Episcopal Church has decided to stop performing all wedding ceremonies because its bishops bar the blessing of same-sex unions.

“We are called to join the fast that our homosexual brothers and sisters in Christ have had to observe all their lives,” said the church’s rector, the Rev. Robert Hirschfeld, in his sermon Sunday.

The worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part, has been splitting apart over this issue and the election of a gay bishop.

Hirschfeld said he knows of no other Episcopal church that has taken the step of abstaining from performing all weddings.

“Gays and lesbians are the church, as much, if not more, as I am as a straight white man,” he said in his sermon. “But this sacrament, and the grace it is meant to convey, is not available to them.” The reaction of members of the congregation was largely positive at discussions with Hirschfeld after Sunday’s two services. Some members expressed concern that the move might be polarizing, while others said they regretted that people who grew up in the church can’t get married there.

For some, the news was clearly emotional. Erica Winter of Northampton, holding her baby and introducing her wife, said working for social justice often involves giving up something.

“Thank you for seeing me,” she said through her tears. “This makes me feel visible and means so much to me.”

Nina Scott of Amherst was also moved to tears. “I’m so proud to be a part of this,” she said. “It’s a step that needs to be taken.” The two priest associates at Grace Church, the Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and the Rev. Burton Whiteside, have also pledged to perform no marriages.

“I am convinced that when gays and lesbians are baptized, they become full members of the body of Christ,” said Bullitt-Jonas. “They are not partial members or conditional members or second-class members.”

“I was blown away and so proud of your courageous statement of solidarity with our gay friends,” said Kate Atkinson of Amherst.

Some church members reflected on the defiance that Grace Church’s move represents.

“The Episcopal Church has to decide whether it’ll continue being a colonial church,” said Zina Tillona of Amherst. “Isn’t it time this church got its independence from the English church?” Royster Hedgepeth of Amherst said he wondered whether the church needs to separate from the Anglicans. “I’m proud to walk into this wilderness with you,” he said to Hirschfeld.

“This is a complicated and painful moment, but it’s also a holy moment,” said Bullitt-Jonas.

“It’s not life as usual anymore,” said Hirschfeld.

Leading communion at Sunday’s service was the Rev. Ruthanna Hooke, a lesbian visiting her mother, a member of Grace Church. The congregation sang a hymn written almost 500 years ago by the defiant Martin Luther, containing these words: “And though this world with devils filled/Should threaten to undo us/We will not fear for God hath willed/His truth to triumph through us.”

Hirschfeld said he was asked at the deathbed of Victoria White, a Northampton lesbian who died recently, if it would be all right to have her funeral at Grace Church. “The question had poignancy for me,” he said. “We are here for all people.” Gay and lesbian couples “always feel their relationship is less than holy” when they are denied the right to marry.

“I can no longer hold together my own integrity as a priest who has made vows to minister faithfully the sacraments of the reconciling love of Christ, if indeed to perform such sacrament means deeper, more wrenching, more agonizing tearing of the body of Christ to which I am called to support and nourish,” Hirschfeld said in his sermon.

He said the church is called to experience “the pain, the longing, and the joy of fellowship” with gays and lesbians.

“I invite us to join in solidarity - no, a better word is in communion - with those persons who have been fasting and walking in the desert their whole lives, not by choice, but because the church has forced them to,” Hirschfeld said.
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What next: baptisms?  Following this “logic,” they might as well because they believe that so long as these so-called “marriages” can’t be blessed, if all babes baptized into the church won’t be able to enjoy “equal rights” when they become adults, then no babes should be baptized.

One thing for sure, the liberal yokels up here make sure normal folks will always have something to laugh about.