Posted on 07/23/2006 4:00:26 PM PDT by 1066AD
The Sunday Times July 23, 2006
It's a sin to fly, says church
THE Bishop of London has declared it sinful for people to contribute to climate change by flying on holiday, driving a “gas-guzzling” car or failing to use energy-saving measures in the home, writes Jonathan Leake.
Richard Chartres will encourage vicars to preach more green sermons and warn congregations that it is now a moral obligation for Christians to lead eco-friendly lifestyles.
Chartres, who chairs the bishops’ panel on the environment, said: “There is now an overriding imperative to walk more lightly upon the earth and we need to make our lifestyle decisions in that light.
“Making selfish choices such as flying on holiday or buying a large car are a symptom of sin. Sin is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a life turned in on itself where people ignore the consequences of their actions.”
Chartres, the third most senior bishop in the Church of England, has declared his views as it prepares to publish Treasures on Earth, a booklet on environmental matters to be sent to every diocese for distribution.
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “We stand before God’s judgment on these matters. In life we have to make moral choices over our sex life and over our domestic and financial affairs. We make choices of moral significance and our relation to the environment is no exception.”
The booklet will say that scientific research supporting predictions that the earth faces serious climate change is “overwhelming”. It will also detail practical ways for Christians to cut their carbon emissions, at church and at home, including trying to walk or cycle to communion.
The church’s advisers on the environment say that offsetting your carbon dioxide emissions against “green” actions such as planting trees is a first step towards becoming sustainable but is not a long-term answer.
Under Chartres, the church has commissioned briefings on climate change, plus examples of green sermons, available on the internet, to help vicars master the facts when writing their homilies.
As dean of the chapels royal, Chartres also oversees churches used by the royal family and so is in regular contact with the Queen, the head of the church, and the Prince of Wales. A church spokesman confirmed both had supported Chartres’ initiative.
The church is taking steps to improve its own environmental record and has asked vicars to carry out an energy audit so they can reduce their “carbon footprint”. It owns some of the largest and draughtiest buildings in Britain, including medieval cathedrals, gothic churches and ageing parsonages.
“We have no right to appeal to our contemporaries on this issue if we have failed to put our own house in order,” said Chartres.
Lambeth Palace, Williams’ residence, has been audited — and was criticised for using inefficient light bulbs rather than the low-energy alternatives.
Claire Foster, the church’s environment policy director, said: “Indiscriminate use of the earth’s resources must be seen as profoundly wrong, just as we now see slavery as wrong.”
Wotta buffoon.
I bet this guy would be allowed to teach this brand of religion in our public school... sure sounds like the "save the rain forest" ministry and their charity buckets planted in all the halls of my children's elementary school a few years back.
Even if one could afford the cost of a transatlantic ocean voyage, only the wealthy could afford to spend so much time traveling at sea. With transatlantic flights that take 8-9 hours, it is possible for people of moderate means to take a two or three week vacation in Europe.
There never was much hope for orthodoxy in a church founded on lust by a maniac. Just another heresy imho.
Must be related to the Anglican bishop of some English diocese who said after the Challenger accident in 1986 that it was a blessing in disguise because the US space program had too much of a military component. Not only was that nonsense but it was a sin, IMHO, for him to be so cavalier about the loss of 7 lives.
The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, third most senior bishop in the Church of England, will be a guest lecturer on board the Minerva II, a Swan Hellenic cruise ship to Spain and the historic sites of North Africa. He will miss services during the most sacred period of the Christian year, but will leave a recorded service to be broadcast by the BBC on Good Friday.
Probably went for free too, with his travel and fare paid for by one of the groups on the cruise.
The Anglican church is a sham.
I love these clergy people who tell us to be loose with our money when giving to the church and not be motivated by money while living in large fancy houses, driving Cadillacs, and going on lavish vacations.
The good bishop seems to have had an Al Gore moment.
Good bye to the Anglican Church. England needs missionaries.
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em, Down Hezbullies.)
But it's okay to vacation on the ultimate gas-guzzler, the cruise ship. How much energy is expended for your luxury liner to go 20 MPH, Mr. Greenie Bishop? Cruise ships make a thousand Hummers look like a Honda Civic in comparison.
Anti-Anglican PC Sarcasm Torpedoes ARMED. FIRE ONE!!
And too many of the Anglican hierarchy need to be re-acquainted with the missionary position. You know, like with their own wife.
FIRE TWO!!
Anglican Bishop declares:
Cut air traffic! Save the swallows!
It appears the Anglican Church has deleted so many sins that they are forced to create some new ones.
...but it was a gay, lesbian and transgendered clergy cruise.
Small wonder Islam sees the West as religiously castrated.
There'd be more hope for the West if this dodo issued a fatua vs Islam.
Let me see if I got this right. It's a sin to fly for a holiday but okay to fly on business? So lets make every trip a "business" trip.
Talking about the state of the environment seems to require one to state up front they are not for dirty water or air.
So having done that there does seem to be a very thin line for some between the Creator versus His creation.
Maybe this character is concerned with losing his flock, so he is actually restricting their airspace to keep what he has left.
He's carrying Algore's water.
Yes, and it might be a better fatwa if the bishop were a lesbian, don't you think?
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