Ecumenical Insanity

Saturday, August 7th

Check out this site

Nothing much has really grabbed my attention over the last couple of days, hence the silence. But I will note that I've come across a fascinating blog that is seeking to understand Reformed theology in light of its Catholic heritage, called, appropriately enough, Reformed Catholicism. I highly recommend it to those who are looking for intelligent theological discussion that addresses our differences as Christians, and does so charitably, empathetically, and intelligently.
Athanasius on 08.07.04 @ 11:00 PM EST [link]

Thursday, August 5th

Where's Monty Python when you need them?

From the "What could he possibly be thinking?" file, via the BBC:

A Gloucestershire vicar is to launch a nude calendar in his church after a group of 13 women posed naked to raise money for rape victims in Rwanda.

The Rev Stephen Earley of St Martin's Church in Horsley said: "As Christians we are taught to help widows and orphans, so I didn't hesitate."

The calendar will help Surf, an organisation working for survivors of the genocide and those with HIV.

The vicar said he was expecting a few complaints about his decision.

"Undoubtedly some people will complain but it is important to see it before making any criticisms.

"A lot of thought has gone into this and it is about empowering Rwandan women who have been so debased. It is about reasserting women's essential female selves," he said.

The calendar has been produced to mark the 10th anniversary of the genocide.

The end is great. The means....the mind boggles.

Athanasius on 08.05.04 @ 09:47 PM EST [link]

One Missourian who needs to show me

In the wake of Tuesday vote in Missouri to amend the state constitution to mandate one-man, one-woman marriage, some really loony reactions are being voiced in local newspapers. For instance, Rabbi Daniel Plotkin of the B'nai El Congregation in Frontenac wrote the following to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

As a new Missourian, I am disappointed in the passage of the same-gender marriage ban. This amendment is a blatant contradiction to the ideas of freedom and separation of church and state that this nation was founded upon.

It is unfortunate that one particular religious view (that of conservatives) is enshrined in the state constitution, and that clergy like myself, who believe that these marriages do deserve the sanction of God, are denied our right to act on our religious beliefs by giving these marriages the sanction of the state.

Let me get this straight: One-man, one-woman marriage, an idea that was universally accepted by religious and non-religious people alike for virtually the entire course of American history, is now a "particular religious view" supported only by conservatives. Furthermore--and here's where he really gets bizarre--it's a violation of the separation of church and state that he can't get state sanction for his religious belief that gay marriage is legitimate.

Please excuse me while I go check to see whether the sky is still blue.
Athanasius on 08.05.04 @ 04:07 PM EST [link]

Wednesday, August 4th

Eden disrupted, and it's all our fault

The National Council of Churches harrumphs over the Iraqi church bombings:

One of the less-reported consequences of the toppling of the Saddam Hussein regime was the loss of protection from hate crimes for Iraq's 800,000 Christians. For centuries Christians in Iraq have worshipped freely within that Muslim-dominated culture, in a variety of congregations, including Chaldean Catholic, Orthodox and Presbyterian. A recent wave of violence against these Christian sites, injuring those at worship, has brought words of shock from western observers, including NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar, who issued the following statement: "The National Council of Churches USA laments the attacks on the Christian communities in Baghdad. These communities trace their heritage in Iraq two thousand years, and during much of that time both they and their Muslim neighbors have lived peacefully side-by-side. [None dare call it dhimmitude.-Ed.] This destructive action taken against the churches by extremists betrays that history of coexistence. We join our Christian and Muslim brothers and sisters of goodwill in Iraq and around the world in condemning this violence."

It is true that churches were not bombed by Islamic fanatics during Saddam's regime. Instead, Christians were the equal-opportunity victims of Saddam's terror. They were no more likely to wind up in a mass grave than were Kurds, Shiites, or Marsh Arabs. They were no more likely to be spied on, arrested for expressing opinions, or have their livelihoods extinguished on mere suspicion of political unreliability than any other minority group. Why, it was practically heaven on earth for Christians in Iraq. Why in God's name would they have wanted Saddam toppled?
Athanasius on 08.04.04 @ 09:22 AM EST [link]

Missouri leads the way

Missouri voters weigh in on gay marriage:

Missouri voters solidly endorsed a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a decision that was closely watched by national groups on both sides of the battle.

With nearly all precincts reporting, the amendment had garnered 71 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results for Tuesday's vote. It was the first such vote since the historic ruling in Massachusetts last year that legalized same-sex weddings there.

Although the ban was widely expected to pass in conservative Missouri, experts said the campaign served as a key barometer for which strategies work as at least nine other states, and perhaps as many as 12, vote on similar amendments this year.

Missouri and 37 other states already have laws defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. But amendment supporters fear a court could toss aside the state law, and they believe the state would be on firmer legal ground if an outright ban is part of the Constitution.

"I'm very gratified and encouraged and thankful that the people of this state understand our current policy's a wise public policy and they want to see it protected from a legal challenge," said Vicky Hartzler, a spokeswoman for the Coalition to Protect Marriage in Missouri.

Though the reporter tries to downplay the significance of this by referring to Missouri as "conservative," the truth is that such an amendment to state constitutions would pass nearly everywhere (Hawaii, one of the most liberal states in the union, already has such an amendment). Though it might seem like more work to amend 50 state constitutions than one federal, this may be the best way for gay marriage opponents to go. Then, if the Supreme Court were to rule such state constitutional provisions run afoul of the federal Constitution, the need to amend the latter would be obvious and indisputable. And if the Court doesn't rule that way, great.
Athanasius on 08.04.04 @ 09:04 AM EST [link]

Tuesday, August 3rd

And now a word from the 8th dimension...

In response to the horrendous bombings of churches in Iraq, this just in from the World Council of Churches:

Responding to the news, the general secretary of the WCC, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said "I was appalled to learn about the bombing of churches in Iraq. This action further undermines efforts to rebuild Iraq as a democratic society where all religious communities and peoples can live in harmony. The WCC has worked for many years to foster understanding and dialogue among Muslims and Christians, which have a long history of peaceful co-existence in the region.[That's a reference to dhimmitude, which apparently is an acceptable form of communal relationship for the WCC.-Ed.] The Council has been at the forefront of ecumenical efforts to promote peace in Iraq and condemned the US-led intervention in the country. WCC and its member churches have actively supported humanitarian relief work in Iraq since the conflict started. We strongly condemn all forms of violence which target religious communities or any group of people, and which seek to introduce religious enmity into this conflict." [Emphasis added]

I appreciate his expression of concern, but what rock has Kobia been living under? Sure, some of the people waging war against the US and the Iraqi people are secular Baathists, but many of them are Islamist fanatics. Al-Qaeda is run by Islamist fanatics. As far as it goes, much of the terror directed by the Saddam Hussein gangsters against their fellow Iraqis was religiously based, as the ruling Sunnis oppressed the majority Shiites. "Seek to introduce religious enmity into this conflict"? When will people like Kobia wake up and recognize that the murderers behind the Iraqi church bombings have been at war--excuse me, religious enmity--with the West for years? September 11 and all that?
Athanasius on 08.03.04 @ 09:32 AM EST [link]

Sunday, August 1st

One Democrat's faith

I wouldn't want to be the Catholic priest or religious educator who has to stand before St. Peter and explain my role in getting this young woman, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, so hopelessly confused about her priorities in life:

"I was raised Ojibwe, Irish, Catholic, and a DFLer [Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party], none of which is more important than the other," says Peggy Flanagan, 25, of Minneapolis, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe.

Flanagan, who's a candidate for the school board in Minneapolis, thinks Catholic Democrats are assuming a larger political role as a reaction to the emergence of the the power of Catholic Republicans--and the bishops--in political fights over abortion and same-sex marriage.

"It was difficult, and it is difficult, that the church in which I grew up, is now sort of rejecting folks, whereas when you get to the door of the church, when you walk through those doors, that's between you and God," she says.

Irish ethnic heritage is just as important as Christian faith? Does she really think that Flanagan name is going to carry weight with God? And she clearly doesn't understand cause and effect in the abortion flap. The Church rejects no one--if someone rejects what the Church teaches as moral truth, then that person has rejected the Church and the Lord who reveals truth to His Church (that's Catholic teaching, not mine). As for the idea that when you go to church "that's between you and God," well, all I can say is that the ecclesiology of Vatican II obviously never made it to her church.

I feel sorry for Ms. Flanagan. Her understanding of Christian, and specifically Catholic, faith is a sad reflection on those in the Church who have failed to disciple her in the truth. Later in the article, she says she's now attending a Lutheran church, but still considers herself a Catholic. The beliefs she expresses in the article are no more compatible with Lutheranism than Catholicism, but hopefully some caring pastor can steer her closer to the gospel and the Lord who stands behind it.
Athanasius on 08.01.04 @ 10:49 PM EST [link]

Foretaste of the future

The future Democratic People's Islamic Republic of Palestine showed off what its political culture is likely to be Sunday:

Gunmen loyal to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat opened fire Sunday at a conference of Arafat's Fatah movement, in the latest sign of factional infighting among the Palestinian leadership.

The Fatah conference was convened to discuss reform in the Palestinian Authority and to call for elections to the Fatah leadership committees, which have not been held for 15 years.

The meeting of about 70 legislators and senior Fatah officials followed weeks of demonstrations against the disarray in the security services and corruption in the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

About 20 armed men broke into the conference on the first day of the weeklong event, firing into the air and above the stage where speakers were seated.

No one was injured, but the meeting broke up. Several delegates met with the gunmen to discuss whether the conference could continue.

With neighbors like this, I can certainly see why Israel should tear down the security fence.
Athanasius on 08.01.04 @ 01:18 PM EST [link]