Anglican Mainstream

Beloved in Christ,

In the United States, there is high interest in what will happen at the TEC House of Bishops meeting in late September. Will Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori heed advice being given her and leave Bishop Duncan alone for the time being, or will she proceed with her deposition plans for him? If she tries to depose him based on what he might do in the future, will she succeed or fail? Also, will the fact that the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Fort Worth and Quincy are all poised to take votes in their respective Diocesan Conventions with regard to separation from the Episcopal Church affect the proceedings?

Presiding Bishop Schori seems to have only one response to crises and that is to invoke the names of "Dewey, Sue’m & Howe" and commence litigation. We would suggest to her a great little book called "Getting to Yes" which might offer a few more options in conflict situations. If Bishop Schori opens up too much litigation all at once she may find herself in the same position that some nations have been - fighting in too many theatres of battle at once and unable to maintain adequate material and resources for each one. If she thinks she can use the trust fund reserve or the pension fund, she should look down the hall to the picture of Ellen Cooke, former TEC treasurer, who was sent to the "time out" box for just such actions.

North of the border in Canada, things are tense as the Anglican Church of Canada in the Diocese of New Westminster continues its assault on the orthodox Anglicans occupying their own property. The attacks by TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada on faithful Anglican believers continue unabated in courtrooms across the North American continent.

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From LifeSite News

BALTIMORE, September 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Alliance Defense Fund and allied attorneys filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Harford County, the town of Bel Air, and seven police officials on behalf of three young, pro-life women. At least a dozen police officers arrived in more than seven marked vehicles and then arrested, jailed, shackled, and/or strip searched 18 pro-life advocates, including the three women, after they held signs and shared their message along a public street.

"The state shouldn’t persecute Christians for expressing their beliefs on important social issues, nor deny them their constitutional rights," said ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot. "This incident paints an ugly picture of the state of religious freedom and free speech in America today."

"The truth of the matter is that our clients were heckled, arrested, imprisoned, shackled, and strip searched twice for exercising their First Amendment rights," said ADF-allied attorney Daniel Cox, who is serving as local counsel. "No excuse exists for how our young clients were treated."

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Summary: BHUBANESWAR, India, September 4 (Compass Direct News) – Christian victims of Hindu extremist violence who have fled to the capital of the eastern state of Orissa said state police have been mere spectators as mayhem continued a 12th consecutive day. Attacks on Christians and their property and institutions began in Orissa’s Kandhamal district following the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP) leader, Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his disciples on August 23. Maoists claimed responsibility for the murders on Monday (Sept. 1), though the statement did nothing to slow Hindu extremist violence that Christian leaders say has claimed more than 100 lives.

Among those who have fled to Bhubaneswar was Father Prabodha Kumar, a Catholic priest who reached the Catholic Archbishop’s House in Bhubaneswar after a seven-day journey from Onjamundi village in Kandhamal. He was among other fearful sojourners at the house whose mobile phones constantly rang with news of more attacks from their relatives, friends and church members in interior villages of Kandhamal. Fr. Kumar looked deeply troubled after one such phone call yesterday. "My brother has been forced to ‘reconvert’ to Hinduism, as he was told that if he did not do so, his house would be destroyed," he said.

Funds to support Christians made homeless in Orissa can be donated through Anglican Mainstream. See here

www.anglican-mainstream.net/donations-and-appeals/

http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2008/09/03/appeal-to-assist-christians-made-homeless-under-persecution-in-orissa-and-flood-victims-in-bihar/
 

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By Pat Ashworth, Church Times

PROTESTS have mounted in Orissa against the wave of attacks by Hindu extremists against Christians, and the destruction of churches, homes, and businesses. The violence erupted in the wake of the murder by Maoist guer­rillas of a Hindu leader, Lakh­mananda Saraswati (News, 29 August).

Atrocities included the public hacking to death and burning of a diocesan executive of the Church of North India (CNI), who was for many years superintendent of a boys’ hostel near Raikia. Christians in Bolangir, the base of the diocese of Sambalpur, have described them­selves as living in constant fear.

Up to 20 people are known to have died in the violence, which is said now to be decreasing, although there are still fresh attacks in some areas. Security forces are thinly spread. An estimated 4000 Christians are re­ported to have been made homeless, and it is alleged that with little or no police protection, many frightened Christians have been forcibly “re­converted” to Hinduism.

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Steve Jalsevac, LifeSiteNews.com
 

The Sarah Palin phenomenon is leaving all news media reeling. Trying to cover not only Palin, but especially the tidal wave of reaction to her, is nearly impossible. It is an unprecedented development. James Dobson’s sudden decision to now vote for McCain is just one of many substantial outcomes of Sarah Palin’s nomination and evidence of her natural ability to shake things up by just being herself.

The astonishing thing is that, unlike most in politics today, this woman does not at all seem to be in politics for herself or any agenda. She fell into politics only because that was the most effective way to correct things that really bothered her. The liberal establishment media doesn’t know how to handle such a person.

Sarah is only one person, and those who agree with her principles should be cautious of overly relying on her. She is as human and flawed as the next person.

The power of Sarah Palin, we suggest, is not so much who she is but that she is representative of what could happen if many more such ordinary, but principled and feisty men and women get the idea that they too could take on the liberal establishment - and win. She is showing, contrary to all the conventional wisdom, that it can be done and how to do it - confidently stick to proven principles, act on them and don’t ever be intimidated by the media and political party people. It this catches on, the establishment is toast and they know it. Hence, they must quickly act to destroy her.

The hatred of the liberal media, radical feminists, pro-abortionists, de-populationists and environmental extremists that has come up so quickly and so strong reveals they are afraid this women will upset their carefully laid plans. So far, however, that reaction is backfiring on them. As one commentator stated in an MSNBC session (see the link to the video in the News Highlights story) "the media need to be protected from her." Maybe. She came out of nowhere and is unlike anyone they have had to deal with before.

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From Touchstone

The following is an excerpt from a letter from Francis Cardinal George of Chicago to be printed in the bulletins of every Catholic parish in the Archdiocese:

The Catholic Church, from its first days, condemned the aborting of unborn children as gravely sinful. Not only Scripture’s teaching about God’s protection of life in the womb (consider the prophets and the psalms and the Gospel stories about John the Baptist and Jesus himself in Mary’s womb) but also the first century catechism (the Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) said: “You shall not slay the child by abortions. You shall not kill what is generated.” The teaching of the Church was clear in a Roman Empire that permitted abortion. This same teaching has been constantly reiterated in every place and time up to Vatican II, which condemned abortion as a “heinous crime.” This is true today and will be so tomorrow. Any other comments, by politicians, professors, pundits or the occasional priest, are erroneous and cannot be proposed in good faith.

This teaching has consequences for those charged with caring for the common good, those who hold public office. The unborn child, who is alive and is a member of the human family, cannot defend himself or herself. Good law defends the defenseless. Our present laws permit unborn children to be privately killed. Laws that place unborn children outside the protection of law destroy both the children killed and the common good, which is the controlling principle of Catholic social teaching. One cannot favor the legal status quo on abortion and also be working for the common good.

This explains why the abortion issue will not disappear and why it is central to the Church’s teaching on a just social order….

No, it cannot disappear as long as human consciences remain humane. It also explains why the legal status quo, Roe v. Wade, simply must be destroyed. It’s a notice most of which could go in the bulletin of any Christian church, and if you need to change the word Catholic to Christian, I don’t think anyone would strongly object….

By Bill Bowder, Church Times

A MONTH after the Lambeth Conference, the 230 or so absent Anglican bishops have not yet been contacted in order to “build bridges” with them. In the mean time, their leaders have stated that they have heard nothing from Lambeth to give them pause as they seek to form a new North American province.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Canon Kenneth Kearon, the secretary general of the Anglican Communion, committed themselves at the Lambeth Conference to ensur­ing that the absent bishops were kept fully informed of what had taken place, and of the process expected to lead to the Anglican Covenant.

All the Primates have been sent copies of Dr Williams’s post-Con­ference reflections; but on Wednes­day the promised “bridge-building” letters had still not been sent out. “I know it is being worked on in the office, and it is in process. But the letters have not physically gone out to everyone absent yet,” a source in the Anglican Communion Office said.

The press officer, Canon Jim Rosen­thal, confirmed later in the day that they would be sent out at the end of the week.

Dr Williams and Canon Kearon have both been on leave.

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By Riazat Butt, Guardian

The Archbishop of Canterbury has pandered to conservatives in the Anglican communion by scapegoating and marginalising homosexual Christians, a senior cleric claimed yesterday.

The Right Rev John Bryson Chane, Bishop of Washington and one of the most influential figures in the liberal-majority wing of the US Episcopal church, made the remarks about the Lambeth conference, the 10-yearly gathering of the world’s Anglican bishops that took place in Canterbury in July and August this year.

The three-week summit saw Rowan Williams attempting to avoid schism by reinforcing a ban on gay bishops and same-sex blessings, moratoriums aimed at appeasing conservative evangelicals who were infuriated at the inclusive nature of some US and Canadian churches.

Chane said: "There was far too much recognition of those who chose not to participate in this Lambeth conference and far too little recognition of those bishops who chose to come."

His comments, in an article called Stop the Scapegoating, published on a US website, are the most scathing yet about Williams, and he is the first US liberal to break ranks with his church and condemn Lambeth. Bishops from the Episcopal church maintained a united front at Canterbury, despite internal divisions over central issues, and remained on-message by stressing the positives. His assessment is more critical than the one issued by primates from the breakaway conservative movement the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon).

Chane took Williams to task over several matters, notably his overtures towards the Gafcon bishops who boycotted the religious summit.

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Dr. Philip Ney, LifeSite News

OTTAWA, September 4, 2008 (LifeSitenews.com) - I am a retired professor of psychiatry, having taught in 5 universities in different parts of Canada, Hong Kong and New Zealand. I have also run child and adolescent psychiatric units. I have been on school boards. It is from a review of the literature and from my experience that I write this brief opinion.

1) There is no particular need for "sex education." For many centuries there was no sex education, yet children were conceived and their parents enjoyed the process. Discovery of each other and what is pleasant in bed, on the wedding night and thereafter, is an important part of the exciting and unique pleasure that bonds the couple.

2) Sex education inhibits pair bonding. To educate young people about something that comes naturally robs them of the spontaneity and joy of sex that is vitally important for pair bonding and thus family stability.

3) The more sex education, the more sexual self-consciousness. There is substantial evidence that the more sex education, especially on technique, the more the couple is sexually inhibited. The greater the emphasis on sexual performance, the less communication and interpersonal intimacy there is.

4) The more sex education, the more sexual activity. It is quite conclusive now, that the more sex education, the more sexual activity and all the problems that go with that. The introduction of sex education is well correlated with the increase in abortion, STDs and boy-girl interpersonal problems. Good education gives people the desire to try it out or learn more experientially. Paradoxically, in that respect, current forms of sex education are good education but have the wrong results.

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From Zenit.org

Here is an article by Ian Ker, an Oxford University professor, regarding rumors circulating in the British press about Cardinal John Henry Newman. The article by the Newman scholar appeared Sept. 3 in L’Osservatore Romano.

The exhumation of Venerable John Henry Newman’s body from his grave has led to calls in particular from the homosexual lobby that he should not be separated from his great friend and collaborator Father Ambrose St. John, in whose grave Newman is buried in accordance with his own specific wishes.

The implication of these protests is clear: that Newman wished to be buried with his friend because, although no doubt chaste and celibate, nevertheless he had more than simply friendly feelings for St. John.

However, if wanting to be buried in the same grave as someone else indicates some kind of sexual love for the other person, then C.S. Lewis’ brother Warnie, who is buried in the same grave in accordance with both brothers’ wishes, must have had incestuous feelings for his brother.

Or again, G.K. Chesterton’s devoted secretary, Dorothy Collins, whom he and his wife regarded as a daughter, while thinking it presumptuous to ask to be buried in the same grave as the Chestertons, nevertheless directed that she be cremated and that her ashes should be buried in the same grave. Does this mean that she had more than filial feelings for one or both of her employers?

Ambrose St. John was an extremely close friend of Newman. He had devoted himself for 30 years to the service of Newman, even asking if he might take a vow of obedience to him at his confirmation, a request that was, of course, refused.

Newman blamed himself for his death, having asked him to translate the German theologian Joseph Fessler’s important book on infallibility in the wake of the First Vatican Council, a last labor of love that had proved too much for him, overworked as he already was.

In his dark last days as an Anglican, Newman said that Ambrose St. John had come to him "as Ruth to Naomi." After joining Newman’s semi-monastic community at Littlemore outside Oxford, he had remained as Newman’s closest supporter all through the difficulties of founding the Oratory of St Philip Neri in England and all through Newman’s many subsequent trials and tribulations as a Catholic.

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From Anglican Samizdat

Published with Dr. Pitt’s permission:

Dear Bishop

I was very interested to read the letter published in yesterday’s Times from you and your co-signatories. (I read the online version also) I am glad for your clarifying of the points in Dr. Williams’ letters. To be honest I found the front-page headline rather crass as well as inaccurate. I agree entirely with you about Ms Sieghart’s comments about the church. I have written to the Times about her article and I include a copy of that letter. I was glad to read the synopsis of the conclusions of the Lambeth Conference also.

You raised the issue of my motives in releasing the private correspondence. Believe me I did not do this lightly. So please allow me to give you some background.

I was extremely worried at some of the content of Dr. Williams’ letters. I did not feel I could trust him. I believed that he probably had other liberal views which would be incompatible with my evangelical faith. I stopped attending the Church in Wales. I believed things would get worse and frankly I was dismayed at his appointment to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Since then my disquiet has grown.

To better outline my concerns at Dr. Williams views on homosexuality I will send you a copy of the letter I sent him some months after receiving his first one (see below). It is long but I hope it presents a coherent picture of someone who cares passionately about the Gospel and the Christian witness to the nation and who wrestles as best possible with the ethical struggles of living as a Christian in a post-Christian society. I hope you will at least read some of it!

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Hat Tip:  Stand Firm

This message is specifically directed to every priest in charge of a congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. However, I am sending it to all clergy, vestry members, and convention delegates on our mailing list so that everyone will know what I am proposing.

As the date approaches for our momentous Diocesan Convention vote in November, many parish clergy have attempted to make certain that their parishioners understand the issues surrounding the proposal that we separate from the General Convention of The Episcopal Church. In several places parish forums have been held, where outside speakers have been brought in to present the opposing sides on the question of realignment. Some of you have preached sermons on this subject, written articles for your parish newsletter, and even in a couple of places brought in General Convention authorities to speak to your people. In addition, several different groups have been formed in the Diocese, including Remain Episcopal, Via Media, and Remain Faithful, which have attempted to educate, organize, and motivate the laity to take sides on the question: “Should we remain with TEC or with the Diocese?” Legal counsel has been engaged, lawsuits are being anticipated, various steering committees have been formed, and outside assistance from the “815” church headquarters in New York is being sought.

An important factor that has often been forgotten in all of the controversy is the need for prayerful discernment that seeks, above all else, to know what God’s will is for us at this particular time in our life together as a diocesan family.

As your bishop and chief pastor, I am inviting and urging that every congregation in this Diocese enter into an intentional 40-day period of prayerful discernment to be concluded the week prior to our Convention on November 14 and 15. This means that our start-up day would have to be either September 28 or 29. Furthermore, I am proposing that we all use the same materials and process that will lead us in this venture. All the information that you will need may be found at this website: www.40daysofdiscernment.org. Please go to that site today or tomorrow and get everything you need in order to begin.

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By Archbishop Peter Jensen, Sydney Anglicans

Let me be personal. The Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem was one of the highlights of my life.

Primarily it was a spiritual conference and a spiritual experience. As one of the organisers, I was in a position to see how the Lord answered prayer again and again. To organise a conference of this nature in the time available was simply extraordinary and I must testify to you the Lord’s continual faithfulness. I know that many people all round the world were praying for us during the whole time, not to mention that the conference itself was much given to intercession.

There was a sense of seeking the Lord’s will. I will illustrate. My natural personality prefers to have things organised well in advance. I was therefore giving a great deal of thought in the run-up to the conference about what the conference should say and do. The chairman Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria asked us all to stop doing this. To him, it was very important that we sought the mind of the Lord in listening to God’s word and listening to each other. I found this decision a difficult one, as I was conscious of how little time there was to achieve our purposes, the sheer variety of people attending and the complexity of the issues facing us. It meant a new level of trust in the Lord.

We followed the chairman’s wisdom. The result was the Jerusalem Declaration, a document which in my opinion is going to be regarded as one of the most significant statements in the unfolding history of the Anglican Communion. I have to say that as I heard the final version read out by Archbishop Orombi, I was in tears. In part this was because of the content, which meant so much to the people who had shared their painful stories with us. But it was also because I had seen the Lord do something in our midst which I could not have anticipated.

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By George Conger, CEN

The Anglican Communion has been broken and it is an “illusion” to believe things can ever be the same again, the archbishops of the Gafcon movement said last week following their first organizational meeting in London.

The leaders of the conservative wing of the Anglican Communion, representing more than half of the church’s active members, on Aug 29 released a statement affirming the aims of the movement—now known as the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA)—and restated its commitment to the reform and renewal of the communion.

However, they disagreed sharply with the course taken by Archbishop Rowan Williams in avoiding a full and frank airing of the issues, with one insider telling The Church of England Newspaper the Anglican Communion’s sex wars had taken on a Dickensian quality, and like “Jarndyce and Jarndyce” was still dragging its “dreary length before the court, perennially hopeless.”

The Primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of Uganda, Archbishop Henry Orombi, the Primate of Rwanda, Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, the Primate of Kenya, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, and the Primate of the Southern Cone, Presiding Bishop Gregory Venables—later joined by the Primate of Tanzania, Archbishop Valentino Mokiwa also offered a critique of suggestions made by the Windsor Continuation Group (WCG) that another committee such as a “Pastoral Forum” might successfully address the issues dividing the church.

Read HERE.

By Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As a final vote approaches on whether the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh should secede from the national church, local Episcopalians who want to remain part of the New York-based denomination are meeting to plan for their future.

"A Hopeful Future for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh: An Alternative Solution" will present reasons for opting to stay in the Episcopal Church.

It will also present what may happen with property, a new diocesan government and other issues if Bishop Robert Duncan and most local Episcopalians change their allegiance to the theologically conservative Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, which covers six nations in southernmost South America. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"A Hopeful Future" will take place at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 in St. Paul Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon.

On Oct. 4, the diocesan convention is expected to take the second of two votes required to attempt to secede from the Episcopal Church. In the first, taken in November, laity voted 118-58 and clergy voted 109-24 to leave the Episcopal Church.

One other U.S. diocese, the Fresno-based Diocese of San Joaquin, Calif., has already realigned with the Southern Cone, though the Episcopal Church is disputing its right to property and has set up a competing diocese headed by a retired bishop from the region.

"A Hopeful Future" is not primarily an effort to defeat the realignment attempt, since a majority of those voting appear to support the switch, said the Rev. Nancy Chalfant-Walker, rector of St. Stephen in Wilkinsburg and a member of the steering committee of Across the Aisle, the group that is organizing the meeting.

Across the Aisle claims members from at least 29 of the 72 parishes and missions of the 11-county diocese.

"I think the vote to realign is going to happen," she said.

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Sep 4 2008 by Darren Devine, Western Mail

A SENIOR clergyman has threatened to quit rather than work alongside the man who could become the UK’s first openly gay bishop because he says homosexual acts are “sinful and wrong”. Canon Peter Jones said he would consider his position should the Dean of St Albans, Dr Jeffrey John, become the new Bishop of Bangor.

Mr Jones, who is Vicar of Conwy in the diocese of Bangor, hinted the appointment of Dr John would lead many others to walk away from the Church in Wales.

Earlier this week it emerged that Dr John is a candidate to replace Bishop Tony Crockett, who recently died of cancer.
Dr John, 55, and his long-term partner the Rev Grant Holmes became civil partners in August 2006, but he claims to be celibate. He advocates a more liberal interpretation of homosexuality by the Church and was forced to turn down the post of Bishop of Reading in 2003 when his appointment threatened to split the Church of England.

The Church in Wales has played down the growing storm over Dr John’s candidacy, suggesting a moratorium on the appointment of gay bishops makes it highly unlikely he will be chosen for the post.

Mr Jones, 59, who is canon treasurer of Bangor Cathedral, said: “I would be strongly opposed to the appointment [of Dr John].
“Jeffrey John is a strong advocate of changing the Church’s traditional teaching on homosexuality and I accept the teaching of holy scripture that homosexual acts are wrong. Therefore to have someone deliberately seek to undermine that teaching – that is clearly not someone who is suitable to hold office as a bishop in the Church of God.”

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  From The American Family Association (AFA) 3 September 2008 

In January, McDonald’s paid for travel and accommodations for 56 employees to attend the “Pioneer Summit” in San Diego.  The purpose of the meeting was to develop a plan to promote the gay agenda within the company.  Those attending were thrilled that McDonald’s showed such support for their agenda.

• Sign the online Boycott McDonald’s petition.
• Forward this to family and friends and ask them to sign the petition.
• Print and distribute the Boycott McDonald’s petition.
• VERY IMPORTANT! Call your local McDonald’s. Speak with the manager. Tell him or her (in a polite manner) that you will be boycotting McDonald’s until they stop promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage. To find the phone number of your nearest McDonald’s, click here.
• For more information on the McDonald’s boycott, click here.

Two mutually exclusive worldviews are battling it out for the heart and soul of America. One values life, liberty, faith and family. One values statism, secularism and social engineering.

By Bill Muehlenberg

There are at least two clear reasons why the secular left is absolutely foaming at the mouth over Sarah Palin, John McCain’s Republican running mate. One is her worldview – it stands in complete contrast to the worldview of the secular left. Two, despite all their contempt for, and dismissal of, Palin, the secular left deep down is worried sick that the McCain/Palin team may well be a winning combination.

Thus expect the hatred, ugly attacks and abuse to keep flying from the leftists…

As I said, this is fundamentally a worldview clash. Two totally opposite ways of looking at the world are engaged in a life and death struggle. A number of conservative columnists have picked up on this truth. Charles Colson puts it this way “Social conservatives reacted to Palin’s election with near euphoria. Social liberals reacted with fury. Why? How could a governor from a politically small state spark such strong emotions? I believe it is this: In the life of Sarah Palin, we see the clash of worldviews playing out before our own eyes. Consider every major controversial issue in American politics and culture right now . . . and somehow, they touch her personally.”

He goes on to list abortion, marriage and family, love of country and the role of the state as some of the defining issues. He raises the abortion issue as an example of Palin practicing what she preaches. She kept her Down syndrome baby, and is committed to looking after him for the rest of his life. And her pregnant daughter will keep the baby and marry the father. 

Colson concludes, “Like all of us, she wrestles with her own convictions. Every flashpoint in American politics and culture seems to come together in this woman from Alaska. I am not telling you how to vote, but for once, I will urge you to watch the news and the political commentaries. Because if you can see through the smoke, you will be able to witness the clash of worldviews in real time.”

Read HERE.

By Peter Beckwith, VirtueonLine

The first Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) was held June 21st through June 29th in Jerusalem, Israel. The 2008 once a decade Lambeth Conference was held July 16th through August 3rd in Canterbury, England. As perhaps you are aware, I wasn’t inclined to attend either one because I didn’t think my participation would be worth the cost in time, energy and money. As a result of urging from a number of quarters, I changed my mind. First, I decided to go to GAFCON, then Lambeth. In retrospect, I believe it was important that I participated in both.

GAFCON was "billed" as a "pilgrimage" in addition to being a conference. Melinda and I, having never been to the Holy Lands, found visiting the Old City, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Capernaum and Bethlehem awe inspiring.

The greatest gift, however, was joining with over a thousand committed, orthodox, Anglican Christians from around the world who are obviously on the same page theologically and spiritually — the same page the Church has been teaching for two thousand years. Words are inadequate to describe how refreshing and renewing the whole experience was. Of all those bishops, priests, deacons and laypersons, I dare say nary a person attending GAFCON would question that Jesus is the Incarnate Son of God, born of a Virgin, who died for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and has sent the Holy Spirit to be the Comforter. Nor would anyone there suggest Jesus is something before being Lord and Savior.

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By Hilary White, LifeSite News

TORONTO, September 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Canada’s Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) has expressed "serious concerns" that a proposal by a government "human rights" agency will force physicians to "check their personal views at the door in providing medical care." The CCRL warned that draft guidelines for physicians concerning Ontario’s human rights legislation would result in Human Rights Commission complaints against a physician who refused on religious grounds to refer women for abortions or same-sex couples for artificial reproduction.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has responded to a set of draft guidelines for doctors by Ontario’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, saying it was "pleased" that the draft policy addresses the "obligations of doctors to ensure that they do not make professional decisions based on their personal moral or religious beliefs."

The OHRC also advised the College to amend its draft to state, "A physician’s refusal to provide a service or accept a patient on the basis of a prohibited ground, such as sex or sexual orientation, is prima facie discrimination, even if the refusal is based on the physician’s moral or religious belief."

The OHRC openly asserts its bias against people of religious faith, saying they are culpable for "discrimination." "The Commission has most frequently addressed situations in which actions based in religious belief have had a discriminatory impact on others relating to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability," the submission said. Read the rest of this entry »