Archbishop of Canterbury Says Anglican Church Wounded, Not Dead

LONDON (Reuters) - The leader of the Church of England on Tuesday said a vote last month that struck down proposals to allow women to become bishops had been "deeply painful", but that Christianity was still relevant in Britain despite falling numbers of believers.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who leads the global 80-million-strong Anglican Communion, said in his Christmas day sermon that the answer to the question of whether Christianity had "had its day" was a "resounding no".

The Church of England narrowly voted against allowing women bishops last month - to the dismay of Williams and Prime Minister David Cameron - in a move its leaders said risked undermining its role as the established church in society with clerics in parliament's upper chamber.

The media, many politicians and some members of the public have criticized the Church of England for failing to allow women bishops and for failing to back government plans for gay marriage at a time when it is under pressure to modernize.

In separate comments aired on Tuesday but recorded earlier, the Roman Catholic Church's leader in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, said the government's plans to allow gay marriage were a "shambles" and had no mandate.

No religious organization or cleric will be forced to conduct gay weddings under the plans, but critics fear that clause could be challenged under European human rights laws.

>> Archbishop of Canterbury Says Anglican Church Wounded, Not Dead <<

I dunno. Looks pretty dead to me. I have a hard time finding a proud, devout, practicing Anglican.

>> Christianity was still relevant in Britain despite falling numbers of believers. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who leads the global 80-million-strong Anglican Communion, said in his Christmas day sermon that the answer to the question of whether Christianity had "had its day" was a "resounding no". <<

Christianity is still relevant in England, Anglicanism isn't. You can designate yourself the "official church" all you want, it won't change the fact nobody attends your services.

>> The Church of England narrowly voted against allowing women bishops last month - to the dismay of Williams and Prime Minister David Cameron - in a move its leaders said risked undermining its role as the established church in society with clerics in parliament's upper chamber. <<

Underminded it's role in parliament? GOOD. The idea that a "free country" would give some totally discredited "church" seats in Parliament SOLELY because it's guaranteed such clout in the Constitution is appalling. Though I don't see all the liberals screaming about "separation of church and state!!" ever criticize England for having an ACTUAL theocracy (or Muslim countries for that matter). Yet they go ballistic when church officials that DON'T have constitutionally enshrined government offices speak their minds about political issues. Go figure.

>> The media, many politicians and some members of the public have criticized the Church of England for failing to allow women bishops and for failing to back government plans for gay marriage at a time when it is under pressure to modernize. <<

Again, where's the "SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!" crowd? Oh that's right, it's OK to have churches get involved in "government affairs" if it helps advance a liberal cause, right?

>> In separate comments aired on Tuesday but recorded earlier, the Roman Catholic Church's leader in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, said the government's plans to allow gay marriage were a "shambles" and had no mandate. <<

Nah, can't be. Protestants on FR keep telling me that Catholic officials are sooooo much more liberal than protestant churches. Certainly news to Christians in Europe, though.

>> No religious organization or cleric will be forced to conduct gay weddings under the plans <<

Hmmm. Sounds familiar...

"Removing immigration quotas will not flood western countries with third world immigrants"

"Legalizing abortion won't result in abortion on demand or forcing people morally against it to pay for one"

"Income taxes will ONLY affect the richest citizens and extremely affaluent corporate CEOs, most people will never have to pay income taxes in their life"

>> “Autumn”, the actual last hymn sung on board the sinking Titanic.

There has been debate about that for 100 years now - it was probably “Autumn” or “Nearer My G0d to Thee”. Had I been there, my choice would have been “Autumn”.

>> “Jerusalem”

Originally titled “And did those Feet in Ancient Times”, although not technically a hymn, is dearly loved, and has been the subject of a protracted snot fight in the UK since WW-1. Yobs are still having at in on YouTube. Although William Blake’s 1808 lyrics may be socialist in origin (see Wikipedia), they still bring tears to my eyes.

What the Catlicks need to do is to knock Fr. Carl P. Daw, Jr. over the head, kidnap him, chain him to a desk and say “Here’s our sorry stuff; now get to work revising it. Or else. Unlike your wimpy tribe, our nuns have rulers.” ;o)

Daw, BTW, is an EpiSscopal hymnologist.

I lean toward “Autumn” on the Titanic for two reasons: my Mom and my wife’s mother were born in the 1920’s. They grew up hearing their mothers sing that hymn in memory of the victims. Walter Lord referenced “Autumn” in his 1955 classic, “A Night to Remember.”

Not long before she passed away my mother in law opened a hymnal, pointed to “Autumn” & said that’s what her mother would sing on or about April 14th every year.

However, I must admit I only first heard of “Jerusalem” on Monty Python where it was sung to persuade the store salesman to remove the bucket over his head after hearing the word `mattress”.

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