Kathleen LundquistMY AUGTEMBER'S FREE
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is still hesitating about whether to accept an invitation from American bishops to meet them to discuss the gay crisis in the Anglican communion, even though it turns out that he is spending part of the summer in the US. The American Episcopalians are threatened with expulsion from the worldwide church after September because of their welcoming attitude towards gays and, following a meeting last month, their bishops asked to meet Dr Williams to explain their point of view. You might think that the archbishop would want to meet them, not least since they provide much of the money which keeps the Anglican mission going. His answer instead is that he is planning to spend much of the next three months on sabbatical and holiday, so won’t be available. What the Church of England hasn’t said is that he’ll be in the US. Asked yesterday whether he might offer them a little time, Williams’s spokesman said: "No, that’s off limits."
Given the rejection of the Dar es Salaam Communiqué by the ECUSA bishops, the mood of the primates and the arrogant and insulting suppositions behind the invitation, I can't envision my gracious lord of Canterbury giving ECUSA any time at all. It would be far better for the long-term peace of the Anglican Communion for Dr. Williams to let the Americans twist in the wind.
Submitted by Alan
at 4/12/2007 12:55:23 PM| First schism, THEN reconciliation. |
Submitted by Gregg the obscure
at 4/12/2007 12:57:26 PM| Wouldn't the most fitting reply to TEC's invitation be "bugger off"? |
Submitted by st. anonymous
at 4/12/2007 1:21:52 PM| H-O-L-I-D-A-Y, Piskie bishops. Look it up. It means time spent AWAY from things that cause stress and annoyance. |
Submitted by Eagelwing
at 4/12/2007 1:29:48 PM| Could it be that the poor Brit reporter has confused the United States with North America and made Canada our 51st state? +++Rowan will be visiting Canada soon. |
Submitted by Anglicanum
at 4/12/2007 1:44:55 PM| Wow, just because Americans don't understand the concepts of 'down time' and 'vacation' doesn't mean that +Canterbury has to give up his sabbatical. And you know, the LibProt Americans don't seem to understand that *they* are the *biggest reason* the ABC needs a break. I have a mental picture of the Archbishop pulling his hair out and yelling, "YOU are the reason Daddy's leaving!!" |
Submitted by David+
at 4/12/2007 2:44:46 PM| I would hope the Archbishop refuses to pay an offical call on TEC. After all, look where the holy listening has gotten us so far! And it just might teach TEC bishops the need for a tad bit more humility as well. |
Submitted by Ed the Roman
at 4/12/2007 3:16:16 PM| "Daddy Drinks Because You Cry", from the list of children's books that did not get published. |
Submitted by Dale Price
at 4/12/2007 3:29:49 PMTop Ten Things Rowan Williams Would Rather Do Than Meet With TEC's Hapless Bench During His Sabbatical
10. Use a fiberglass suppository.
9. Read Forcefielder's Choice: The Very Best of Frank Griswold
8. Audition for American Idol by singing "My Humps," with Simon as the only judge.
7. Become The Official Archbishop of the Detroit Lions
6. Attend a Yoko Ono concert.
5. Be interviewed by Don Imus.
4. Headbutt a wasp's nest.
3. Slow-dance with Courtney Love.
2. Appear on Celebrity Jeopardy: NHL Trivia Edition. And the number one thing Archbishop Williams would rather do than meet with TEC's Paladins of Polity: 1. Three words: Live organ transplants.
|
Submitted by Anglicanum
at 4/12/2007 3:48:27 PM| LOL, Dale. #8 is my favorite. |
Submitted by Tom
at 4/12/2007 3:51:11 PM| Are y'all aware that Rowan is in the neighborhood? He's up north to take in some hockey. I hear a very loud message to the HoB: "Meeting? Ain't happenin' blokes (and blokettes)! |
Submitted by Fuinseoig
at 4/12/2007 4:11:58 PM| One does wonder if the Archbishop's visit to Canada (amongst the many reasons to visit that fine nation) might have the faintest scintilla of a hint of a rebuke to the "generous" offer that was in no way insulting or patronising, nosireebob, to pay his way over for talks with TEC. Kind of a gentle reminder that, even if they are supposedly the richest member of the Communion (and frankly, I'm beginning to doubt if they really do have as much spare cash sloshing about in their bank accounts as they insist), still the Church of England can manage to scrape together the few bob for the airfare, thanks all the same. It will also be very interesting to see if this is by way of a pastoral visit to the Great White North, seeing as how Archbishop Hutchinson expressed himself so freely recently. Nothing official, oh dear no, just popping in for a cup of tea and a nice friendly chat, Andrew; isn't it nice you're getting on so well with Katherine? Do tell me more... |
Submitted by Sinner
at 4/12/2007 5:18:00 PM| It would be far better for the long-term peace of the Anglican Communion for Dr. Williams to let the Americans twist in the wind.
No! Far better if he excommunicated ECUSA immediately! The soonest and best and quickest solution if they are supposedly the richest member of the Communion (and frankly, I'm beginning to doubt if they really do have as much spare cash sloshing about in their bank accounts as they insist)
1. ECUSA is NOT a member of the communion. ex-member. |
Submitted by Sasha
at 4/12/2007 6:02:01 PM| Sinner has it right! Furthermore, I'd recommend to Mr. Williams that he cancel his trip to Canada - the bulk of those "prelates" are of the same seamy cloth as the Yanks! |
Submitted by Philip G
at 4/12/2007 6:47:44 PM| My pollyanna self is bubbling up today and so, my thought is this. +Cantaur may just use this face time with the +Hutch as an effort to preach to him about where the edge of the world is looming, how near at hand it is and what responsibility +Hutch has to the ACoC.
The +Hutch is not doing the ACoC any good, by being a card-carrying member of the Greek Chorus rooting for KJS & TEC. The +Hutch is cashing in his chips and getting out of town, BEFORE the Synod of the ACoC. He has stoked the fires and kicked the tires and now, having done all that, he's gonna scarper off before the denouement, cackling to himself as he disappears over the horizon, like Sorehead, carrying a steamer truck of odd socks (tip of the glengarry to Harvard Lampoon, "Bored of the Rings"). I hope that +Cantaur may get +Hutch's attention; perhaps he will dangle a sparkly in front of him long enough. If he does, it is just barely possible that +Hutch may just decide to push his influence into dragging the ACoC back from following TEC over the edge. |
Submitted by obituary
at 4/12/2007 7:31:01 PM| Is that the 'edge' of the chunk of cliff-face that broke off last month after being undermined by the Cdn. Synod council? I think it is all too late folks and the Canadians are to take a 'Leap of Faith' alright. Right into the pit. |
Submitted by Jim McNeely+
at 4/13/2007 12:16:25 AM| Dale, How in hell am I supposed to be mad about being extended in Iraq when you make me laugh so hard. I mean, really! -Jim+ |
Submitted by Ed the Roman
at 4/13/2007 7:50:44 AM| Jim, you can just reflect on how it's Bush's fault that you're laughing to hard to be properly angry. |
Submitted by Dale Price
at 4/13/2007 9:45:24 AM| Fr. Jim: Glad to give you a laugh. Thank you for your service--my brother did a tour in your neck of the woods back in 2004-5, so I have an idea of how tough it is. |
Submitted by Guillermo
at 4/13/2007 10:26:46 AM| Does anyone see a bit of "liberal racism" at play as the negro section of the Anglican church is summarily dismissed as barbaric savages by the honkies? Reading the Bible. What a quaint and primitive idea! |
Submitted by Sinner
at 4/14/2007 5:04:37 PM| a bit of "liberal racism"
Only a "bit" of racism?? ECUSA and the liberals are completely and utterly racist through and through: both the ECUSA black caucus and the global south have made this claim explicitly many times. Racism alone - notwistanding any theology - would be more more than enough to remove all liberals from ECUSA if the church even lived up to its own PC creed. |