Destructive and outrageous

Rachel Treweek was the first female bishop to sit in the House of Lords     Source: Christian Today

The Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, has blasted the presence in Church House, Westminster,  of Jules Gomes, formerly a priest at St Mary's on the Harbour on the Isle of Man, who addressed a group of supporters of the former Bishop of Chichester, George Bell, who is accused of historical sex abuse.

She said it is 'outrageous' that a disgraced priest banned from ministry has been allowed to speak at the Church of England's headquarters. There is another side to that story in the following video (5 mins in).

Choosing to ignore our great British tradition of freedom of speech, bishop Treweek said "I think it is outrageous that he [Jules Gomes] has been allowed to speak at Church House under that title ['Rebuilding bridges'] when his writings demonstrate that he is not up for living in reconciliation or relationship.'

Her objection was that Gomes had been "invited to speak under that 'wonderful title' whereas all his writings about me and other bishops who are women are being destructive and destroying bridges not building them".

So in her view opposition on theological grounds to the ordination of women is "destructive"! Treweek was not only priested but consecrated bishop in an organisation which claims to belong to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church while adopting its own rules to permit the ordination of women against the wishes of the vast majority of Christians, including most Anglicans. The decision was a huge impediment to unity. That was destructive.

Not content with their members being admitted to the priesthood and the episcopate, the feminist organisation Women and the Church (WATCH) has persistently tried to undermine the process which enabled them to be ordained. That is outrageous.