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It is a sad reflection of society today that I am again pushed for my first comment on the news in 2023 onto a familiar theme.
It is hard not to take notice when images such as that above appear with ridiculous claims that are contrary to biblical truth.
The latest person to claim 'God's will' is the 'first non-binary Church of England priest'. A 'first' the Church in Wales has missed out on.
As friction over LGBTQ issues worsens in the global Anglican church, the ONS has published 2021 census data which show that around 1.5 million people (3.2%) identified with an LGB+ orientation (“Gay or Lesbian”, “Bisexual” or “Other sexual orientation”), comparatively few when compared with the 43.4 million people (89.4%) who identified as straight or heterosexual.
These figures illustrate the extent to which the tail wags the dog in western Anglicanism.
There is no escape from the propaganda. The London 2023 New Year fireworks display which, for many, represents a new beginning was filled with political propaganda including a ‘we’re here, we’re queer’ celebration of LGBT rights which illustrates the depths of homophile infiltration, even among young children and how adept their strategists have been at manipulating public opinion.
What is particularly offensive is how the Church has, and is, being used to further the interests of a relatively small group of people who have no regard whatsoever for the faith of those they have displaced.
Their desire to validate a minority life style at the expense of others cannot be met with silence less it implies tacit acceptance of the fantasies of these users of the Church.
It doesn't happen often AB, but you're slightly wrong in your assertion that the C-in-W missed out on being first to celebrate 'non-binary' (??) identity. Look no further than Bangor Cathedral under the quasi-papal management of Curate-in-Charge sub-Dean Sion ap Rhys-Evans.
ReplyDeleteLast year, to great fanfare, much celebration, rainbow-flag waving and 'blessings', pontifical Sion organised a 'sub-Dean in conversation with non-binary Mayor of Bangor lecture' the outlandish part time university student Owen J Hurcum his green hair and gorgeous evening ball-gown t'boot. (Or should I say 'their' green hair and 'their' lovely frocks).
I wasn't there of course. I no longer attend cathedral services after three failed ++Andrew duff dean appointments have reduced the place to a joke, but I hear it didn't go down too well with the bulk of lifelong, straight, Christian congregants who had no say in Sion ap Rhys's appointment to the Deanery or to sex-confused Hurcum's appointment to City Mayor. Two of a kind. Unpopular and identity confused.
But there was no shame on ap Rhys. A 'luvvy' celebration of all that's queer in Bangor and society and worthy of it being pumped out on his expensively installed TV webb.ing ... oh, and apparently good excuse to waste more cathedral money on crates of wine for the darlings who did hobble along in high-heels and make-up, God forbid what poor Bishop Tony Crocket interned within the cathedral would have made of it all.
The new sparkly 'vicar/vicarette' is ensconced in Liverpool I understand. I'm not surprised. Liverpool also re-housed Bangor's last but one failed dean, the Very Rev. Susan Jones after her costly booting out of Bangor. It was she who almost halved the number of congregants at St. Deiniol's; few of the deserted having returned: umpteen priests - and me - included. No one is suggesting that she's of the oddball sexual variety, but it doesn't say much for the Appointments management of Liverpool does it.
But lets not forget the Diocese of Bangor's seemingly endless drive to 'queer' the patch. Its no surprise that Bangor cathedral no longer has a Sunday School. Sensible parents.
Old Bill.
It's curious - to say the least - that in an era when the church has inevitably been marginalized by the ever-increasing secularization of our society, it should then even further marginalize itself by enthusiastically embracing causes and characters only too likely to make it appear yet odder than it already does to wider contemporary society
DeleteIt isn't the Church doing it to itself, but Satan and his familiars used to infiltrate the Church.
Delete@ Salve nos:
DeleteThen for a supposedly 'divine society', the tendency appears strangely prevalent!
Ah, Cyanide Sue, how she's not missed.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64184736
ReplyDeleteThe sickness continues to spread.
In retort to both AB and John Ellis on this and other recent 'blogs' then the wisdom of Edmund Burke (1729-1797) comes to mind in hope that the more intelligent - those remaining - senior priests of the C-in-W are able to read: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". Ponder it; but don't linger. Time isn't with you.
ReplyDeleteAd Clerum
I take Burke's dictum pretty seriously; but in this context it seems to me more the case that the risk is less around evil triumphing, but more around sheer vacuous daftness occupying centre stage in contemporary ecclesiastical discourse.
DeleteHumm. Maybe so JE, but while many perceive the lifestyles and agenda of the LGBTQ+ 'society' to be contrary to biblical scriptures and theology and thus 'sinful' then sin is evil and thus creeping evil is triumphing. Poor us.
ReplyDeleteAC
Indeed. But not everyone is a Christian, and the western church, at least, has long taught that while conscience certainly needs to be informed, following your conscience is the ultimate moral imperative.
DeleteSo for someone who feels that their attraction is to people of their own sex and who has no Christian convictions, following the 'devices and desires of their own heart' can hardly be deemed culpably sinful.
But for Christians that issue is necessarily less straightforward. And in my view at least the Church is - or should be - in no position to repudiate the Christian teaching which has been affirmed over many centuries without clear and unambiguous justification.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/08/police-dealing-violent-crimes-behind-closed-doors-warn-magistrates/
ReplyDeleteYet more problems with Plod.
Dear Zebedee. There are, I'm sure, umpteen websites open which actively encourage 'blogs' from vexatious, one-track-minded correspondences from folk obsessed and resolutely critical of the Police and Police Service. Perhaps you might consider subscribing to one where your incessant whinging might find sympathetic airing - to give the rest of us a bit of respite. Alternatively, have you thought of withholding that element of your council tax which is directed to what you refer to as corrupt and even criminal 'Plods'. I'm sure you'd get a fair hearing when making your case in front of local Magistrates.
ReplyDeleteOld Bill (with reminder that I am not, nor have I been, a member of the Constabulary)
Yesterday at meeting of LMA's priests archdeacon updated us on Johanna La Loca. Her sick leave has been extended again - to end of February, as she is suffering from depression and anxiety. At present on half pay, her stipend will cease on 28 Feb. Is this the moment she resigns and diocese starts to recover? It was suggested that people ought to write to ++ Andy to pile on the pressure. Lovely thought if we can celebrate St David's day sede vacante.
ReplyDeleteShe should either have been referred to "occupational health" or given the boot by now.
DeleteAnother embarrassment from the outset and a total waste of time and money.
She can't go soon enough and good riddance.
A bit off-piste - but I believe that some were speculating as to whether Philip North would be coming to Llandaff. Well, he clearly won't be: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-bishop-of-blackburn-10-january-2023
ReplyDeleteHe has only been nominated and "approved" by the King.
DeleteThis means nothing to the gay cabal and lobby so it won't be long before Jayne Ozanne and Stonewall etc start their bleating to put another spanner in the works.
Llandaff would be lucky to have Phillip North, which is exactly why he won't be able to come to Llandaff.
DeleteThe gossip on The Green suggests we will end up with another weirdo.
DeleteProbably Transexual.
@ Baptist Trainfan:
Delete'Off-piste' for sure, but for me your suggestion comes as a curious coincidence.
For years now I've kept Anglicanism pretty much 'at arm's length', but one thing that I do tend to do - for old times' sake, maybe! - is to watch BBC-tv's televised services at Easter and Christmas. They're pretty much all that's left of televised 'normal' worship these days.
This year the venue chosen for the Christmas midnight and morning Eucharists was Blackburn Cathedral, and Bishop North was the celebrant at the latter at the preacher at the former. I've heard him provide a 'Thought for the Day' on Radio 4 from time to time, and his contributions there had struck me as perhaps more thoughtful than most. But I can't honestly say that I'd given him a great deal of thought.
That is, until I heard the sermon which he preached at his cathedral's midnight Eucharist last month. I thought that it was quite masterly: Bishop North not only unfolded the real meaning and significance of the incarnation in straightforward terms, but also did so in a way that wouldn't be beyond the grasp of the significant tranche of sentimental 'once a year at Christmas' attenders who might actually have 'ears to hear'! That takes quite some doing; I was really impressed, and that doesn't happen often.
So much so that I actually mentioned Bishop North's name to someone I know - not from Llandaff diocese - who is a lay provincial elector and who will be travelling to Cardiff next week for the 'conclave' to appoint Llandaff's new bishop. Your post might have prompted me to remind my friend the elector about him, but your news - which I hadn't previously seen - suggests that unfortunately it's now too late!
I've just watched it and absolutely agree: totally orthodox, unpacking a mystery in simple terms, an absence of jargon, relating to present concerns, and above all delivered with enthusiasm and conviction. Top notch and absolutely right for its context.
DeleteIncidentally my wife and I heard a great - albeit simple - sermon preached in St David's Cathedral at Evensong earlier in the year by - I think - the Archdeacon of Cardigan who is a real "force of nature"! A sizeable congregation too even though it wasn't holiday-time.
Also a rather more "meaty" one preached by a Scottish gentleman at a morning Eucharist Bangor in the early summer.
Delete@ Baptist Trainfan:
DeleteGlad to have pointed you to an opportunity to hear him for yourself!
Participating in contemporary Anglican worship in person is probably easier for you - as a 'free churchman' and thus somewhat detached! - than it is for me, since I still carry past, but even now still sensitive, scars dating from my commitment in my younger days!
But I'll probably still occasionally 'put a toe in the water at arm's length' - now there's a mixed metaphor!! - via the safe and distanced medium of the telly ...
The Archdeacon of Cardigan is Venerable Eileen Rees. Could it have been the Archdeacon of Carmarthen? Llechryd
DeleteEileen Davies, not Rees ... and it was her.
DeleteI see from my morning perusal of the internet that there are already some protests gathering over Bishop North's nomination as bishop of Blackburn, on the grounds that he has always been an opponent of the ordination of women.
DeleteThe 'Daily Telegraph' appears to be carrying the story, and reports that Bishop North has twice previously decided to decline other appointments - one as bishop suffragan of Whitby in York archdiocese and the other as bishop of Sheffield - because of protests against his nomination. I didn't know that.
So maybe the saga of his nomination to Blackburn also isn't yet quite 'done and dusted'.
@ Teilo
ReplyDeleteSave your postage stamps Teilo. ++Andrew ignores any incoming mail which might involve him from having to actually do anything or woe betides, take a decision; will protest that he is not able to intervene in diocesan matters and even when he says he has posted replies, we find that he's simply told more fibs. [There's sufficient proof of Billy Liar on that front].
Old Bill
I think you'll find, Baptist Trainfan, that the Scottish gentleman occasionally invited to preach at Bangor cathedral is the Very Rev Gordon McPhate, Dean Emeritus of Chester cathedral, now retired to North Wales. All in Bangor agreed that his sermons - and persona - are exceptional. Oddly, his second prong as Very Rev Professor is in Pathology. But his skills in 'dissection' go well beyond the surgeon's scalpel. How galling it must be for other 'robed up' Bangor cathedral clergy surrounding the Curate-in-Charge sub-Dean to have a real Dean grab the admiration of the diminishing congregants.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the chap. The service was conducted by the Sub-Dean.
Deletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/12/met-police-officers-reporting-toxic-behaviour-insists-sir-mark/
ReplyDeletePlod now allegedly turning on each other.
Hilarious. 😂
Hallelujah.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/12/critical-race-theory-has-captured-church-england/
"Jesus was not fond of virtue signallers".
Pity nobody has let the Archhypocrite Justin Welby in on the secret!