Pre-Synod News March 2007

March 30

– THE APRIL 2007 Anglican Planet is now online. Canadian Bp. Njegovan forbids– forbids!– you to read it … (anglicanplanet)

– CANUCKISTANI Anglican Theological Commission clarifies provenance of same-sex blessings resolutions. Theological Commission Anglican Church of Canada says SSU Is A Matter of Doctrine, but Not Core Doctrine (read comments). It’s all part of the high-rolling 60% hope the CanAngLibs are chasing that they can commit a very public institutional suicide settle the matter their way & stage a coup d’eglise– once, and for all– at GS-2007… (anglican.ca, sf)

– TAP ON ACoC– CoGS disregards consensus of theologians & will of bishops– “Well, the waiting is over: if Council of General Synod has their way, the blessing of same-sex unions will be approved and the St. Michael’s Report will have no role in determining the debate at GS2007″; What happened (!) at CoGS … (TAP)

– DR. EDITH HUMPHREY– “Is Ingham’s “better theology” just chronological snobbery?” … (anglicanplanet)

– SUE CARELESS– Sexuality controversy: Ingham pours oil on flames. New Westminster bishop makes public call for Church to develop “better theology” of sexuality. … (TAP)

– FELIX HOMINUM– “Primates’ Theological Commish responds to Council of General Synod” … (felixhominum)

– DAWN MacDONALD: Christ still changes lives It is time to do some really biblically sound and wholesome teaching on human sexuality … (anglicanplanet)

– CANUCKISTAN– Physicians and Marriage Commissioners: Accommodation of Differing Beliefs … (culturalrenewal.ca)

– FAT LADY ONSTAGE! “Jordan Hylden thinks the Anglican game is just about over” … (mcj.blog)

– EPICYCLIST & WebElf Doug McNeil: “down with equality” … (onemoreepicyle)

– LIFESITE– Explosive Revelations about Homosexual Teachers in Canadian Catholic Schools… (lifesite)

– THE GREAT WHITE NORTH: “.. in a faith civilization, the State plays a supportive role because the Family is a sacramental institution, but in a secular civilization such as ours, especially when it rests on a radical democratic political creed, the State and the Family inevitably become competitors for the allegiance of citizens, and in this sense they are enemies” … (williamgairdner)

– QUEBEC Shifts Away from Statist Left and Gay Politics in Monday Election … (lifesite)

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March 28

– LAYING DOWN THE LAW[YERS]: Pastoral Letter To the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Ottawa– “Clergy who are openly disobedient of the Bishop to whom they have sworn canonical obedience, or who intentionally violate a Canon of our Church, should take note of their legal and moral duties arising from their Letter of Appointment, Licence, and the Oath taken upon ordination, and also the Canons of General Synod regarding Discipline, Licencing of Clergy, and Relinquishment and Abandonment of Ministry” … (ottawa.anglican.ca)

– ON TEC: “The Quebec of the AC” … (kraalspace.blog)

– CANADA– Canon Malcolm Westin RIP. The note does not mention that after years of faithful battling for traditional Anglicanism, Fr. Westin became an Antiochian Orthodox priest … (skdiocese)

– KRAALSPACE on the very new +Ottawa, The Reverend Canon Doctor Mr. John H. Chapman. Her take: “Another liberal, from the looks of it, and a fan of that long-running vaudeville act, The Jesus Seminar. I don’t expect this will change much in Ottawa, though he does say that he thinks that the membership loss has “bottomed out”, which I very much doubt, but time will tell.” The Jesus Seminar?!? Dude: it’s the 1970’s on the phone, and they want their tired liberal fundamentalists back … (Various)

– RETIRING Primate of Canada to Visit King’s College. Mind you, since Canon Gary Thorne the Theological Ninja is chaplain there, it might be an interesting event… (sf, t19)

– AS COMMEMORATED in the ECUSA Calendar– c.s. lewis: hard words for dissenting priests … (Diogenes)

– AGE TO COME– “So, this Anglican week I was talking about….”; Seek the Lord while He may be found … (theagetocome)

– IMAGINARY PEOPLE– First time ex-gay speaks on UK News Programme – James Parker on BBC Today Programme … (mainstream)

– 10% GUESSTIMATE VANISHED: Statistics Canada estimates 1.4% of adults [engage] in homosexual or bisexual [behaviour] … (magicstatistics)

– WILLIAM GAIRDNER– “Democracy Against the Family”; The New Barbarians … (williamgairdner)

– WHERE WE ARE: “… any leftist who calls himself religious is primarily a leftist, only secondarily religious at best. The catalogue of foolish and harmful leftist beliefs is so extensive for the very reason that the leftist mind is not inoculated with the Word — with perennial religious wisdom that prevents the mind from being hypnotized and lured down a host of fruitless, destructive, and anti-human path.” And furthermore, “.. “progressivism” is a deeply nostalgic exercise, politically, developmentally, and even ontologically. Politically it is a form of romanticism, a backward-looking philosophy that naively idealizes human nature and the instincts in general. Developmentally it is nostalgic, for it attempts to resuscitate the conditions of infancy, when “wishing” could be instantaneously converted into “having” merely by crying and registering distress” … (onecosmos.blog)

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March 24

– DIOCESE OF OTTAWA– A Letter from 16 clergy: “AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DIOCESE OF OTTAWA” … (via e-mail)

– VENABLES: Move to separation as quickly and as gracefully as possible; Reflections on the Primates Communiqué. From the General Secretary of Ekklesia … (mainstream)

– CANADIAN CHURCH church declares war on Communion’s opposition to gay unions … (dallasvoice)

– CANADIAN Primate’s office receiving nominations for new national leader … (AJ)

– GRUMPY PROF– Sex and The Episcopal Church (Anglicanism USA) … (Bearblog)

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March 21

– WHEN TRUTH GETS ‘MINORITIED’– In the Anglican Church of Canada, “other” means “orthodox.” Felix Hominum weighs in … (ms, fh)

– B16 CALLS IT– “Benedict XVI, for his part, has wished to distinguish between the two forms of

secularism: the one which, justly distinguishes the religious sphere of power from the civil one, and the deteriorating secularism that wished to ban any sort of religious symbol, denying the fact of religious freedom.” …

(titusonenine)

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March 20

– GOOD FOR THEM– even a gesture of fairness is an improvment over the usual “You Don’t Exist” nonsense from the institution and its official organs: “Other Voices of Our Church” … (anglican.ca)

– WILL CANADA’S ANGLICANS split if their governing body opts for blessing same-sex unions? … (transfigurations.blog)

– JOEY WALKER weighs in on Adams vs. Thorne vs. Ingham (scroll down) … (skdiocese)

– AGE TO COME: “The death of inclusivity” … (theagetocome)

– MICHAEL COREN: “Hey bishop, follow don’t edit” … (southern-orthodoxy.blog)

Via

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March 18

– MICHAEL INGHAM’S loyal news-fixer, Neale Adams, tries to fling some mud at one of the leading theological minds of the Anglican Church of Canada, Canon Gary Thorne (scroll to bottom).. the best6 he can do is “Let us get over our obsession with sexual plumbing and get on with a concern about the quality of our relationships” … (skdiocese)

– SLOUCHING TOWARDS GOMORRAH– Quebec Readies All out Fight Against “Homophobia” with Pro-Gay Gov’t Ministry, Ads, Education … (lifesite)

– THE MIGHTY KRAALSPACE– “Chesterton wrote the definitive portrait of the Boomer generation, way back in 1921. These are the people who now own the Episcopal Church in the US and the Anglican Church in Canada, and this is why it is vain to hope for wisdom and maturity among them, no matter how many years they’re given” … (kraalspace.blog)

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March 16

– CANADIAN Synod Plans Decisive Vote on Blessings; ACC CoGS March meeting … (livingchurch)

– AT LENT & BEYOND, from Gregory Cameron: “I’m so grateful to learn that people are praying for us – please keep up the good work as the Group tries to take on board comments from around the Communion. GKC” … (lent)

– DOWN WITH FREEDOM! — New Brunswick: Gay Adoption Ok But Religious Freedom for Marriage Commissioners Refused … (lifesite)

– DR. SANITY– “Have you ever wondered why the political left is so relentlessly hostile to Christianity and Judaism? The answer is simple—they are in competition with these religions for the hearts of the people. The ideology of the left has evolved into a religion that is essentially even more fundamental (and certainly more fanatical) than either Christianity or Judaism–both of which had their more toxic elements blunted by the rationality of the Enlightenment. Interestingly, the left regularly makes common cause with a third religion, sharing with Islam a fundamentally postmodern view of both metaphysics and epistemology” … (drsanity.blog)

– MAGISTATS– Yet another CaNNet blog … (magicstatistics)

– WINNER of Anglican Hymn Competition Announced … (felixhominum)

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March 15

– ONE OF OUR wonderful CaNN tech guys explains how your gifts will help … (titusonenine)

– BEFORE THE STAND FIRM cyborg invasion, here’s how we handled General Convention 2003, Muwahahahahaaaa! … (gc2003)

– THE CANADIAN General Synod is coming, and things are already rather above room temperature. We’ll soon be keeping track of everything for ya. Here’s a February collection of Canada-only stories from CaNN. More very soon … (gsynod07)

– HURRAY FOR SIN & EVIL! — Canadian Synod Plans Decisive Vote on Blessings. (ACC Council of General Synod): “We are compelled to explore the distinction between the blessing of same sex unions and marriage” … (lc, ACofC)

– MAKING THE CALL– “This June, Canada’s going all-in” … (mcj)

– CAN-ANGLICAN Blessings vote to be decided by resolution: Approval by 60% majority needed; “The Chancellor moved that three of the resolutions proposed be sent to General Synod” … (anglicanjournal, ACofC)

– REALISM– “ECUSA? Canada’s got your back” … (mcj)

– THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY Scott at Magic Stats is on fire: Council of General Synod tries to pull a fast one … (magicstatistics)

– CANADIAN ANGLICAN leaders promote same-sex blessings [some comments] … (canada.com, mainstream)

– PETER at “Age to Come” on Council of General Synod March meetings … (theagetocome)

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March 12

– OBEDIENTLY LIBERAL Globe and Mail regurgitates Ingham’s speech; Michael Ingham seeks to conform the church to the world … (magicstatistics)

– CANADIAN GENERAL SYNOD warm-up continues– Council of General Synod highlights – March 11, 2007 … (anglican.ca)

– SEX ISSUE threatens to split Anglicans…. ‘Bishop Ingham sees the world as setting an example for the church to follow.’ … (canoe)

– RICHARD KEW: “Those foisting all these innovation on the church have never successfully responded to the objections coming from the mainstream of Christianity. What responses there are reflect an inadequate grasp of Scripture and Christian tradition. But this doesn’t seem to matter, for where the church has always been is more likely to be blown off with a wave of the hand that the Holy Spirit is doing a new thing, while they skip off down a path reflecting the tired values of a relativistic, confused, and secular-pagan culture” … (richardkew.blog)

– THE INGHAM: “Sex and Christianity: Re-thinking the Relationship”, March 7th, 2007 … (anglican.ca)

– CONTRA INGHAM– Dr. Brett Cane of Essentials Responds to the Pre-General Synod ACC Globe and Mail article … (email)

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March 10Witnesses In A Dangerous Time

There are few orthodoxies as stern and inflexible as current unorthodoxies. And despite the loud pity-and-justice politics, it is those modern progressive undoxies which– given free rein– are the most intolerant, illiberal, and inhuman. Indeed, there’s no more zealous a ‘heretic’ hunter these days than a hard-core ‘heretic’.

Blaming Nigeria

So when we read the current dog-pile on Nigerian Peter Akinola, we’d agree that in seeking new Church-structures and such does not

(1) mean blinders about the problems of the church in other places, or

(2) denying basic human rights, or exploiting people in that position.

(3) That would include Mr. Coward of Changing Attitude, who loaded up Mr. Davis Mac-Iyalla, took him to Tanzania and forced him into confrontations with the Primates. He’s the guy they claim is being harrassed by the Church of Nigeria (without giving any evidence whatsoever to prove it).

The Slow Fall of England

We’d be able to hear the Anglican left more clearly if it wasn’t for their deafening silence in defence of human rights and religious freedom in the recent imposition of the EUROcratical madness of the new Sexual Orientation Regulations. Ultra-liberalism has come to mean hatefulness and the imposition of political and legal control on majorities, where possible. It reminds one of the various mafia families and mobster rules depicted in The GodFather. Above all, religion and her absolute claims must bend the knee to worldly power, or all is lost.

Soft Tyrannies

As one commentator observes on the English situation:

“There is a widespread view that gay liberation is a movement toward greater freedom. Up to a point, that was true. That point, however, is now receding in the background. The movement for gay equality has rapidly evolved into movement to restrict personal freedoms, including freedoms of religion and conscience. The British example is not a special case. What is being done there today will be demanded here tomorrow….”

And it looks like there’s more to come.

It is hardly a surprise that today’s advocates of revolution are tomorrow’s petty dictators, nor that they would willingly undermine the very freedom and the faith that allows them their freedom of action. What is sad is that they cannot question or reject their tiny new orthodoxies, or grasp the root of sin that is at the root of all such heavens on earth, and at the root of the human soul. Yet another gateway to hell it is, then.

The Christian Option

As some UK Roman Catholics are making clear, martyrdom may be called for here. A Christian response is to stand, and to speak out– sweetly and reasonably– and not budge on matters of first principle, come what may. It may not be that everyone is being frog-marched to a bust of Caesar to offer the pledge and a pinch of incense, but there’s the very devilry of it: a dozen small turnings can accomplish the same redirection & betrayal. And it’s not just England– Canada & the U.S. are under the same threat.

Anglican traditionalists have also borne witness: every bishop, committee member, parish priest, parishioner, theologian, every Christian man or woman who is celibate/ healed/ strugging with same-sex attraction, and whomever else: part of the past 20 years+ of struggle is about telling that story in the life of God’s Church, written in the lives of his people.

Binks

CaNN News Editor

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– A TART RESPONSE to Bishop Michael Ingham’s recent ranting in a Canadian newspaper: “Unfortunately, in spite of what he promises, Bishop Ingham wants no Christian theology or thinking at all, but only a culture-bound and thoughtless secularity” … (skdiocese)

– VIA JOE WALKER– Michael Ingham’s address to the Whole Message Conference; saith Inghy: ‘Think of homosexuality as God-given and good’: Bishop Michael Ingham brought his controversial message to Ottawa last night, Charles Enman writes … (joewalker)

– LITTLE MIKEY INGHAM has been busy of late; and the current Primate of All Canuckistan lays out more views on Dar … (anglican.ca)

– PETER OULD: “Apparently, Michael Ingham (he calls himself a bishop but since when did bishops go around denying the faith? Oh wait…. we’re all Anglicans right?) thinks that we need a better defined theology of sex” … (PO)

– GS07– INTEGRITY CANADA– The Whole Message Conference: Inclusiveness in the Anglican Church of Canada. The Whole Message Conference: Pre-conference address … (integritycanada, anglican.ca)

– HARD-LEFT SWEDISH CHURCH accepts same-sex blessings – ABC to attend Canadian HoB Meeting. Church Times reports responses to Synod debates on sexuality … (mainstream)

– REFORMED PASTOR– You Knew This Was Coming… Press the logic of same-sex marriage far enough, and this is one place you wind up … (reformedpastor)

– MRS. KRAALSPACE– The Women Are A’ Gane Wud … (kraalspace.blog)

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March 9

– OLD ZOMBIE LIBERAL PRIMATES never die– they just scheme and connive and try to make sure their pomps & works endure. Case in point– The Whole Message Conference: Inclusiveness in the Anglican Church of Canada, 13 – 14 April 2007. Keynote Speech A. “In for the long haul” The Most Reverend Michael Peers, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1986-2004. You’ll remember Peers– promoted the ECUSA-fication of the Canadian Church; helped invent and later protected Bp. Michael Ingham; promoted same-sexuality, new liturgies, new hymnbooks, and the like, polarized the Can-Ang church (and nearly bankrupted it with Residential-school lawsuits). He also fought against Lambeth Resolutiuon 1.10, and during the subsequent controversy. A real piece of work. And now, just months ahead of the General Synod comes himself in a whiff of brimstone back onto the public Anglican stage. Read the whole program and list of the usual suspects– unsurprisingly, it’s taking place at the church of the infamous Canon Garth Bulmer, who single-handedly hijacked General Synod 2004, by cleverly inserting the words “integrity and sanctity” into a motion on same-sex relationships. Here’s what Canadian theologian Edith Humphrey said on that matter … (Various)

– MICHAEL INGHAM GEARS UP for June (General Synod 2007 will be held in Winnipeg Manitoba from June 19th to the 25, 2007) — Bishop demands ‘better theology’ of sex. Bishop Ingham: Bishops’ Response Will Have Impact on Canada. Some Anglicans welcome debate on theology of sex … (gm, lc)

– CANADIAN EVANGELICAL broadcaster Lorna Dueck on the Christian Church and sex … (theglobeandmail.com)

– LET’S GIT IT ON: “Spong Canada thinks the Christian church needs to lighten up” … (mcj.blog)

– FYI FOR LIBERALS: “The term “Stone Age” is now considered politically unacceptable. The GEICO cavemen seen nodding in agreement”.. so don’t be calling us Anglican conservatives ‘Neanderthals’, ungh? … (bbc)

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March 8

– ON GENERAL SYNOD 2007– bisexual unions: a response to “Living God’s Blessings” I … (joewalker)

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March 7

– KRAALSPACE– ” For Purple Hazy Majesty, above the fruited plain”; and “A brief note on the Residential Schools scandal.” We’d add that the Caledonia deal was a cynical if clever ploy by then-Abp. Dave “I Love Ingham” Crawley, to have it that the defunct diocese hadn’t owned the churches in one region under his care (to avoid legal expropriation by the gov’t in lieu of damages), whilst letting Michael Ingham go after parish properties a year or two later in the Diocese of New Westminster, in a regionalso under Crawley’s care. It’s a Have Your Cake & Eat It Too policy, of the most shamelessly double-standardish sort. It is the game, how she is played … (kraalspace.blog)

– MORE FUN IN CANADA– Gay activists: marry us, or else! Rights for them, but not for others. Activists Fight Bill Permitting Marriage Commissioners to Refuse Homosexual “Marriages” … (sda)

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March 4

– CAN-ANGLICAN RADICAL “Michael Ingham to Episcopal Church: “You’re great, we’re great, and I’m the greatest.” You know, ‘cuz at GS-04, instead of any censure or criticism, Inghy got elected to represent us to the Americans. Live Blog: Bishop Michael Ingham’s Address to the Plenary Session of the Executive Council … (magicstatistics, ENS)

– CANON GARY THORNE– Adiaphora again: What the Saint Michael’s Report really says about Doctrine … (T19)

– FIE, FIE! ON statistics: Canadian Anglicans don’t need ‘em … (magicstatistics)

– SPINED RC BISHOP– Terry Prendergast (+Halifax): Marriage Offers the best chance to grow. A sad majority of Canadian Anglican leaders are rather less helpful– or even responsive … (various)

– BOVINIATOR: “Orthodox Spinach”; Irreconcilable Differences and the Coming Divorce … (bovinabloviator)

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March 3

– MAGIC STATISTICS: “The Anglican Journal rants over Rowan Williams’s visit to Canada” … (magicstatistics)

– FAITH ON FIRE: “While traditional churches in the West face plummeting attendance, the demographic centre of Christianity has shifted irrevocably to Africa, Asia and Latin America, where a fiery fervour is changing the faith — and political landscape — forever” … (ottawacitizen)

– CANADA: Top court to rule on epic battle for same-sex survivor benefits … (transfigurations.blog)

– NORMALLY LIBERAL Canadian Supreme Court Rules Against Retroactive Pension Benefits to Homosexual Partners… (lifesite)

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March 1

– THE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL of– well, the tiny and radicalized sect known as The Anglican Church of Canada… GS2007: In Plenary – Core doctrine and Adiaphora ? What’s the difference? … (storiesoffaith)

– AFTER THE NEXT GENERATION: Canadian Homosexual Activists Consider Targeting Private Christian Schools for “Homophobia” .. Want provincial ministry of education to exert “more control” over curriculum and staff hiring … (flickr.com)

– J. BUDZISZEWSKI– “The gay-activist movement is finding its way into more and more schools — promoting destructive behavior under the guise of tolerance. How can you ensure that the truth gets a fair hearing?” … (catholiceducation)