Funny, I was just reading the parable of the Good Samaritan and then I read this diatribe and see so clearly the message of Jesus. The homosexual person lying by the side of the rode beaten and bleeding to death is passed by by the Episcopal Bishops of Sudan because he is unclean. But the Episcopal Presiding Bishop of the United States of America takes the man to the inn and pays for his care despite being labelled a heretic. It has never been more clear to me that TEC is on the side of Christ in this matter, imperfect as it is, and the Sudanese Church and ACNA are incapable of being Christ to those it has declared sinful. The law was made for man, man was not made for the law. Pax Christi!

At least (The Most Rev.) Bul sent along Advent greetings. So, we got that going for us.

That's quite a stinger in the tail end. Once again, people in the Diocese of Chicago will be shaking their heads over the man they hosted and supported before his elevation.

Given the position the Sudanese bishops have taken, will they have the integrity to return and refuse any aid gotten from Episcopal Relief and Development? Or is it permissible to accept the money of "sinners," just not the "sinners" themselves? Uncompromising purity is such a sticky wicket...

Priscilla hit the nail on the head. If God had the attitude the bishops of Sudan and company had, he never would have become incarnate in Christ Jesus, for it involved associating with sinners. And wasn't that precisely one of the problems the Pharisees had with him?

(The Most Rev.) Dr. Bul had better watch that charge of "pushing oneself away from God's Word." Hold that yardstick up to everyone, and so very few would measure up, for God's Word taught, "Treat others the same way you want to be treated" (Luke 6:31) -- and there's been precious little of that in action in Christendom.

[Why this letter now? Not a year ago?]

Personally, I think that ++KJS should go anyway: no miter or crozier, just a sister-in-Christ visiting friends (because I BET there are some friends in Sudan who would still want to see her).

I have to believe there is a space between the "episcopos vagantes" that we oppose when they arrive on our shores, and being unable to share the Gospel (where it's so sadly missing). JMO.

JC Fisher

I wonder if perhaps this business with Sudan is a domino, and if so, how many dominoes there might be lined up.

It's as cavalier about its relationships as it accuses TEC of being about its own.

Torey Lightcap

I like JC Fisher's idea that +Katherine should go anyway.... that would speak volumes. It may be that there is some good that would come of this regardless. As for the money, can we punish needy people because of official bravado and stupidity? Jesus wouldn't do that.

I'm not saying Episcopal Relief and Development ought to withhold money to Sudan, Peter. Jesus certainly would do that. But I am questioning the Sudanese taking it, if they feel about the Episcopal Church here as their statement says. There seems to be no little hypocrisy in branding someone a "sinner" or "the Great Satan," yet still taking their foreign aid nonetheless. If we're so bad that one can't associate with us, one shouldn't want anything to do with us, money included, no matter how badly needed. It's called integrity, and integrity sometimes costs plenty.

Pardon the typo... I meant "Jesus certainly wouldn't do that..."

The relationships between dioceses and bishops in the two churches are pretty deep. I hope, and suspect, that this is an exercise in gesture politics.

I imagine that this has much to do with the settlement of the status of newly-recognized South Sudan, where the archdiocese is situated. TEC's voice and support are no longer needed.

The Bishop might want to read about the "first official UN Report" on LGBT rights as it "calls for LGBT rights worldwide."

Excerpts:

"Homosexuals and transgender people in all regions face discrimination and violence, including killings, rape and torture because of their orientation, and risk the death penalty in at least five countries, the United Nations said on Thursday.

In the first official U.N. report on the issue, it called on governments to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, prosecute all serious violations and repeal discriminatory laws.

“Homophobic and transphobic violence has been recorded in all regions. Such violence may be physical (including murder, beatings, kidnappings, rape and sexual assault) or psychological (including threats, coercion and arbitrary deprivations of liberty),” said the report by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

....

In addition to spontaneous “street” violence, people perceived as being LGBT may be targets of more organised abuse, “including by religious extremists, paramilitary groups, neo-Nazis and extreme nationalists,” the U.N. report said.

Violence against LGBT people tends to be especially vicious, with “a high degree of cruelty” including mutilation and castration, it added.

....

Members of sexual minorities are disproportionately subjected to torture, often in custody, the report said.

Too bad this report doesn't square with "Anglican orthodoxy," but that's no surprise at this point. Gay people have long since learned to rely on the secular world for mercy and protection anyway....

(Here's a PDF of the report itself.)

(Meanwhile, "Legalized same-sex marriage may boost gay men's health."

But of course, "orthodoxy" is far more important than exposing prejudice, cruelty, and violence against small minority groups, or helping people find better ways to live....)

This saddens me. Just this last week a group from the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska returned from the South Sudan. We are also a companion diocese with Twic East. Just last week I met with other members of my church's outreach committee and said we should send funds to Twic East. Now, I must say I am conflicted about that. Jesus never placed conditions on people, so I become very disappointed when Christians do. It is apparent to me that the church in the South Sudan is being religiously bigoted and not acting as Christ would act.

This bigotry really hurts, doesn't it? Similar posturing by the Potentate of Egypt, ruler of Episcopal Jerusalem, has convinced me to send my money for Palestine to secular organizations( Oxfam, et al) for relief. It is a damned shame when secular organizations hold Christ's teachings more highly than "Anglican" agencies.