Although he doesn't look like he's up to the job of foretopman . . .
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.”
perferably a fat one. :)
This bozo is about as relevant as the Queen.
LOL. Yup.
One has to laugh at this, given the presence of what CofE calls the "flying bishops" -- providing alternative oversight to parishes who won't accept their regular bishops who happen to be revisionists.
The price of not maintaining order -- and then trying to patch over the result.
Oh, they are deadly serious about this type of sin. They are also quite in favor of labeling personal preferences in matters of race or gender as a sin, as well as anything less than full throated approval of the radical homosexual agenda. And I'm sure anyone with a harsh word for the British Government's new "religious hatred" law is quite the sinner in their eyes too.
Sins like sucking innocent babies out of their mothers' wombs, now, or adultery, or blasphemy-- well, those are tired old Old Testament sins and they care not a whit for them.
-ccm
I am a proud sinner and intend to increase my rate of sinning dramatically this summer. I will be a weekly sinner.
I am sorry to have to agree with you, and that is why my family are now Catholic rather than Episcopalian. I have come to realize that the Church of England was founded to raise divorce to the level of a sacrament.
They still have the loveliest liturgy, however (the 1928 Prayer Book.) I sure wish we had an Anglican Use parish in our diocese. I also pray for the demise of the mainstream Episcopal Church in America, and for the reconciliation of the traditional Continuing Anglican movement with Rome.
-ccm
Although he doesn't look like he's up to the job of foretopman . . .
I always thought Christianity was about saving souls, not saving the earth. As I recall, heaven and earth shall pass away...
Silly me.
The good Bishop must have a "Fear of Flying." ;)
You should add "that we only occupy roughly 17% of"
That commandment must've been on the tablet that Moses left behind...
It's a sin to be an environmentalist, says the Bible.
I can't think of a single adverse impact to Christianity if the Anglican Church was grounded.
On the other hand if it was grounded any longer in the Bible then the Anglican prelate would most likely not be an Angilcan prelate, and would not have had his official soapbox from which to issue his inanities.
Ahhh, now I see the reason for lousy English food. It is a mortal sin to enjoy yourself. (also explains the warm beer)
Perhaps somebody should worry about "bearing false witness", as there is no man made "climate change"!
You got that right. Completely absurd.
Agreed! And what did the Bishop say on 9/11? "It's a sin to fly planes loaded with innocent people into buildings occupied by innocent people". Did he say ANYTHING like that? Didn't think so........
He never got the word that gluttony is a sin.
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