Openly homosexual cleric to be appointed to prestigious position in the Church in England.

BBC News ^ | April 17, 2004

[Cracker72]

Gay cleric in line for senior job

The gay canon forced to stand down as Bishop of Reading is to be appointed Dean of St Albans.

The choice of Dr Jeffrey John to the senior Church of England post will cause more controversy across the Anglican Communion.

Traditionalists fear it will take the Church's break-up a step further following the ordination of gay bishop Gene Robinson in the US.

Downing Street is expected to make the announcement on Tuesday.

The previous Dean of St Albans, Reverend Christopher Lewis, moved to Christ Church, Oxford, last October.

Church unity

Dr John was to become the new Bishop of Reading until he withdrew his acceptance of the post last July.

His decision followed weeks of argument within the Anglican Church about whether or not he should be allowed to hold the position, because of his sexuality.

Dr John, who is in a celibate relationship with a man, said then that he made the decision because of the "damage" his consecration might have caused the "unity of the Church".

The BBC's religious affairs reporter Martha Doyle said: "The Communion is already on the verge of schism over homosexuality. This will do nothing to bring Church conservatives and liberals closer together."

"Liberals are overjoyed at what they see as a carefully crafted compromise which recognises Dr John's undisputed talents as a theologian.

"But the choice will anger traditionalists who are already furious over the appointment of a gay bishop in the United States and same-sex blessings in Canada.

"One group has described it as 'outrageous'."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had come in for harsh criticism in the debate over the Reading appointment.

He was accused of turning his back on clergy in the developing world after he said he had raised no objection to the appointment.

The Lambeth Commission set up by the Archbishop of Canterbury to resolve the crisis within the church is due to report at the end of this year.

[Betaille]

But... London is a holy city. Aren't they afraid of inflaming the "Christian street"???

[PaxMacian]

COMING SOON!
prostitute nuns

[Eala]

"time for that new ping" ping

[Eala]

But... London is a holy city. Aren't they afraid of inflaming the "Christian street"???

Um. Since when is London (much less Lambeth) "holy"? And the last I looked, the "orthodox Anglican street" is already inflamed.

[Betaille]

"Um. Since when is London (much less Lambeth) "holy"?"
I'm making fun of the fact that every time we try to confront Islamic terrorists, we are told not to there because it is a "holy city". Najaf, Karbala, Fallujah, Jerusalem, etc...

[Eala]

The gay canon forced to stand down as Bishop of Reading is to be appointed Dean of St Albans.

Time to retire that "snAlbans" bag...

[jocon307]

"Downing Street is expected to make the announcement on Tuesday."

Why is the PM announcing this? Or do I misundertand?

[Eala]

I figured that, but (as an Anglican) it jarred a bit.

OTOH, the notion that liberal Anglicanism is a "Religion of Peace" is quite put to rest by this report. Act a bit like the Islamists, they do...

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping. Church of England apostasy alert.

(I didn't quite understand the article. I thought the homosexual John guy quit...? If anyone gets it, can they clarify?)

Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.

[Mike Darancette]

Is it any wonder that a Church formed with the express goal of weakening the sanctity of marriage would come to this?

[Mears]

He's in a celibate relationship with a man? Can he prove that?

[lizma]

I agree. It's birth was based on one man's selfish desire to have a male heir to the throne. It's a kicker that Liz is the one we remember the best.

[ditto h]

I don't think that faggots speak for the Lord.

[Clint Williams]

Nothing like the old "reductio ad absurdum" argument, with a sly insinuation inserted. Or was that ignorance, perhaps?

[Lester Moore]

That's the long and the short of it.

I find it remarkable that so many supposed Christians imagine that the Holy Spirit instructs the Body of Christ thru the organ of a degenerate faggot.

[traumer]

"The gay canon ... "

Burn in Hell !

[RonF]

First, your summation is quite inaccurate. But there's another aspect of history you're ignoring.

one man's selfish desire to have an heir to the throne.

Selfish? Henry VIII knew something you didn't; English history. You ought to read up on it yourself and reflect on what the consequences were when there was no clear heir to the throne in England. Civil war and the death of multitudes was often the result as rival claimants clashed.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

He is in a celibate relationship with a man. ROFL... Now that is spin worthy of a Clinton seal of approval.