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Episcopalians aren't making a mass exodus from their church, but dioceses across the country are doing a slow bleed as members realize that a much-anticipated report released six weeks ago has no teeth and that the denomination's ordination of a homosexual bishop will go unpunished.     The Windsor Report, which sought to resolve the Anglican Communion's crisis over authority and homosexuality, criticizes same-sex blessings in U.S. and Canadian churches and the ordination last year of Bishop V. Gene Robinson. But the report also reprimands Third World bishops who have crossed diocesean lines to help marooned conservative parishes.     Within a few...

We've all heard about "taking the Fifth." Heck, we only need watch the bureaucrats testifying about their wrongdoings for instructions on how that works. They'll use their Fifth Amendment, and any trick they can think of, to keep from telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Well, "taking the Fifth" is not just reserved for those in government. Citizens also (usually) have a right against self incrimination. In fact, American citizens can use a whole host of such "protections," if they learn to exert their Constitutional authority. For instance, the Ninth Amendment states that: "The enumeration...

RWANDAN PRIMATE SAYS WINDSOR REPORT IS NOT FINAL WORD by Emmanuel Kolini Now that the anticipated "Windsor Report" has been released publicly, it is quite important to note that this Report is recommendatory in nature and by no means the final word concerning the heretical doctrines and practices in various parts of the Anglican Communion, including the United States and Canada. The content of the Report - a product of a seventeen-person Commission - is not unexpected. Regretfully, it offers an institutional and ecclesiological response to grave theological and doctrinal matters which erode the Gospel message. A Scriptural response -...

Although it would be hyperbolic to suggest that Monday, October 18, 2004 is the most important day in Anglican Christianity since Henry VIII first noticed Anne Boleyn, that day, when the Lambeth Commisssion report is scheduled to be released, is surely in the top five. The report will only make recommendations but these recommendations will shape the course of Anglicanism for at least the next generation or two. What might the report contain? As I see it, the Commission had four options: (1) ECUSA will be immediately suspended from all participation in the Anglican Communion unless it repents of the...

Emphasizing the Anglican Primates' agreement that "bishops are to respect the boundaries of one another's dioceses and provinces," Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold today sent a letter of concern to Archbishop Henry L. Orombi after a third Southern California congregation yesterday aligned with the Ugandan Diocese of Luweero. Griswold also issued the following statement to media: "I am saddened by the action of clergy and members of three congregations in the Diocese of Los Angeles and their desire to separate themselves from the life of the Episcopal Church. I know how assiduously Bishop Bruno has sought to be a minister...

Frank Griswold took in a movie a while back: A short time ago I went with a friend to see The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson’s film depicting the last twelve hours of Jesus’ earthly life. This film has received much attention, both positive and negative, from critics and the public. I have been struck by how many people have said they have been profoundly moved by the film. I must admit I was somewhat startled when the ticket taker at the theater said to me cheerily, “Enjoy the show.” So what did you think of it, Frank?...

Frank Griswold was in New Haven, Connecticut over the weekend to help Christ Church Episcopal celebrate its 150th anniversary. As expected, the over/under on the word "reconciliation" was through the roof: Griswold, the 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, visited the Christ Church Episcopal this weekend for its 150th Anniversary. Griswold presided over the Easter celebrations for the entire weekend, starting with a mid-day Good Friday service. The power of Jesus' sacrifice to help heal wounded relationships formed the core of Griswold's sermon Friday. Griswold said he recognized the possibility of reconciliation when he was in New...

NEW HAVEN -- As incense wafted into the wooden rafters at Christ Church Episcopal, The Most Rev, Frank T. Griswold III knelt on the floor and bathed parishioners’ feet in celebration of Maundy Thursday. "The night before his death Jesus set an example for his apostles by washing their feet, a humble service. We all need to understand his example," said Griswold with deep respect. For the first time, the 25th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church led the church in its Eucharistic Liturgy for the annual Easter Triduum, or three holy days before the Resurrection of Jesus...

Mystical Paganism An Analysis of the Presiding Bishop's Public Statements This essay theologically analyzes a number of public statements made by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. I analyze these statements because his thought expresses what many people in the Episcopal Church actually think and feel. Therefore, to theologically uncover his real theology is to analyze an important aspect of ECUSA's corporate thought. My sources for the Presiding Bishop's underlying theology were the essays, sermons, and articles available in 1999 on the Episcopal Church web site. I have read a number of his statements since then. There is...

LOVE EPISCOPAL STYLELast Sunday at Washington's National Cathedral, on the occasion of the celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord, Frank Griswold delivered a sermon that demonstrated once again that whatever his religion is, it isn't Christianity: And of course, distinctions, and differences do exist among us and are embodied in us: our cultures, our languages, our life experiences. As well, divisions exist among us based on our various points of view, some of which we create and sustain and justify out of our fear, arrogance and sinfulness. That we have such distinctions, differences, and even divisions, is neither surprising...

<p>In the original "Planet of the Apes," (search) Charlton Heston plays an astronaut--Taylor--who crashes on an unknown world ruled by intelligent apes.</p> <p>The film concludes when Taylor, seeing a partially buried Statue of Liberty, is devastated to learn that he's actually landed on Earth. His faster-than-light space voyage had altered the flow of time, leaving him stranded in a hopeless future.</p>

I have just returned several hours ago from the meeting of the Primates in London. It was a difficult but very truthful meeting in which our understanding of one another¹s contexts and the burdens each one of us must bear were made abundantly clear. I have ever greater respect and affection for these brothers of mine and for the ministry they carry out, often in the most difficult and seemingly hopeless circumstances. The effects for our Anglican brothers and sisters of our action taken at General Convention giving consent to the ordination and consecration of the bishop coadjutor-elect of New...

DOCUMENTS CONCEALED BY BENNISON AND GRISWOLD REVEAL DECEPTION OF PA BISHOP AND MORAL COWARDICE OF GRISWOLD By David W. Virtue Parishioners at The Church of the Good Shepherd have made available to Virtuosity copies of a letter that their Rector, Father David L. Moyer, recently sent to them. That letter, based on documents that Bennison fought so hard to keep from Father Moyer, demonstrates that Bennison's persecution of this Godly priest included deception, lies and even concealment of important information from his own Standing Committee and his "Reconciliation Team". What is even more troubling is what the same documents reveal...

Episcopalian leader lashes out at Bush for 'reprehensible' policy Tuesday, January 14, 2003 BY KEVIN ECKSTROM RELIGION NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON -- The top bishop of the Episcopal Church, in a stinging rebuke of American foreign policy, said the United States is rightly "hated and loathed" around the world for its "reprehensible" rhetoric and blind eye toward poverty and suffering."I'd like to be able to go somewhere in the world and not have to apologize for being from the United States," Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold 3rd said Friday in an interview with Religion News Service. Griswold, head of the 2.3million-member...

Legislation allowing Connecticut police to more quickly investigate Internet sex crimes like the one that apparently led to the death of 13-year-old Christina Long failed this year because state lawmakers worried about violating civil liberties. So while officials praised the quickness of the FBI in tracking down Saul dos Reis, 25, of Greenwich, who investigators say confessed to the killing, state experts and local police say Connecticut’s reliance on federal agencies is unwise given the rapid spread of Internet sex crime. “Everybody has their own job to do,” said Danbury Detective Capt. Mitchell Weston, “and we were lucky in this...