Ruth Gledhill: Dreams of Church liberals are almost dead

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The Archbishop of Canterbury has rarely been more impressive than in a speech he delivered in Rome just before his meeting with the Pope and just after the Roman Catholic Church had issued its astonishing offer of a home for Anglican Catholics unable to accept women bishops and other innovations. He spoke in characteristically human and erudite fashion of why there could be no going back on the ordination of women.

Just a few days later, he failed to condemn openly the new law to be enacted in Uganda that will condemn a large number of homosexuals to death. Yet when it came to the election as a bishop of a monogamous woman who has been in the same relationship for 21 years he was quick to judge. The problem was that this woman’s relationship is with another woman.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams • Anglican Provinces • Church of Uganda • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • TEC Conflicts • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings • * Religion News & Commentary • Ecumenical Relations • Other Churches • Roman Catholic • Pope Benedict XVI

6 Comments
Posted December 8, 2009 at 5:16 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. The young fogey wrote:

What a bunch of spoiled brats. They get virtually everything they want and they still whine.

It almost goes without saying that any civil-rights violations are anathema to this libertarian.

Might Rowan’s reticence come from his formerly being an orthodox Anglo-Catholic (which is why he’s credally orthodox) so he knows better? Some think he might pope after he retires. One can always hope and pray.

December 8, 8:02 am | [comment link]
2. The young fogey wrote:

Then again Uganda simply could be a prop for the white liberals doing their favourite thing: showing off to impress/one-up other white liberals.

December 8, 8:04 am | [comment link]
3. pendennis88 wrote:

Well, I condemn the Uganda law.  And now will we see the US Bishop Chane of Washington condemn anything done by his friend, who he invited to preach at his cathedral, Mohamed Khatami (“If we abide by the Koran, we must mobilize to kill.”)?  No?  I didn’t think so.

I think one can be forgiven for doubting that TEC cares one whit for any human being in Uganda or Iran, other than as a temporary political prop.

December 8, 8:58 am | [comment link]
4. The young fogey wrote:

And now will we see the US Bishop Chane of Washington condemn anything done by his friend, who he invited to preach at his cathedral, Mohamed Khatami (“If we abide by the Koran, we must mobilize to kill.”)?  No?  I didn’t think so.

Good call!

I don’t want to wage war on the Muslim world but we don’t don’t want to live in a Muslim country (as opposed to a secular country with Muslims in it)...

And the left love going on the offensive militarily for ‘humanitarian reasons’...

But yes, political props.

December 8, 10:07 am | [comment link]
5. USCAE wrote:

He spoke in characteristically human and erudite fashion of why there could be no going back on the ordination of women.

Hrrm, just too bad that he didn’t speak the Truth.

December 8, 10:44 am | [comment link]
6. dwstroudmd wrote:

Kate the PB is the best argument for Women’s Ordination ever made…all gentleness and kindness and maternalness until someone crosses her path.  Then, sheer savagery and usurpation and non-canonicalness.  See how much better the world is when all that nasty testosterone isn’t there.

December 8, 7:34 pm | [comment link]
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