A note from Bishop Barbara Harris

A note from Bishop Barbara Harris, who was the subject of a long stream of erroneously-directed abuse yesterday on the Web site Stand Firm in Faith:

Jim,

Was not me! Knew nothing of the demonstration nor have I been in San Francisco for several years now and I know nothing of the dull normal who runs the Stand Firm In Faith (which faith?) website. As a Black person, I am quite accustomed to the fact that to many, if not most, white folk "we all look alike." That is why so many Black folk sit in jail from "eye witness identification" accounts. I have been identified and addressed as the Rev.Dr. Katie Cannon, the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglass, the Rev. Sandye Williams and the Rev. Mary Adebonojo, as well as Diane Pollard and Nell B.Gibson. Oh well, fact of life in "America the (racist) Beautiful."

So while I do have a concern for the Palestinian people, that definetly is not me in the photo. I also have a deep concern about so called orthodox Anglicans, Episcopalians in particular, who feel they have cornered the market on revealed truth and righteousness. It's a heavy Fred Phelps, Jerry Fallwell, Pat Robertson-like burden to carry.

Feel free to pass this on to them if you wish. I do not know how to blog on to websites and would not do so to such a freakie one as that.

Affectionately,
+Barbara

Greg Griffith, who posted the item, has now apologized.

Updated: This seems appropos. The magic words: "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" come up at 9:34.

This line from The Crucible, seems on point, as well: "I shall not rest til every inch of this province belongs again to God." Spoken by the hanging judge.


The cached version of this item is all that is now available, and it does not convey some of the nastier insults lobbed at the bishop by a brave anonymous poster named Jeffersonian and by the site's editor Greg Griffith. But have a look for a brief taste.

Posted by Jim Naughton on November 4, 2007 10:01 AM | |
Comments (4)

I have every confidence that my friend Bea Morris, a UCC minister, would be honored to be confused with Bishop Harris. The piece of plastic pipe she is carrying was something she was delivering to an interfaith contingent for use with a banner at the Oct. 27 march against the Iraq war in San Francisco.

Jan Adams

Posted by janinsanfran [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 4, 2007 11:26 AM

TBH, I'd never really read the Stand Firm blog before today, but I'd heard about it. I've just read Mr Griffith's apology, but was taken aback by some of the comments, themselves written 'with qualification'! I mean, c'mon! Stand Firm commenters should just let his apology stand! - Jay Vos

Posted by dutchfox [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 4, 2007 2:44 PM

Actually, I think this is a better rejoinder:

For they do not plan for peace, *
but invent deceitful schemes against the quiet in the land.
(Ps. 35:20)

Posted by Josh Thomas [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 4, 2007 3:32 PM

I was intrigued to see the Episcopal-Jewish Alliance for Israel at http://epjafi.tripod.com/

and I have to confess, I hope that the reasserter folks represented by Standfirm, and EPJAFI do not represent the mainstream of Anglican conservatism. I can respect people who honestly abide by their beliefs, but not those who distort facts. may God protect us liberals from such distortion, also.

Weiwen Ng

Posted by Weiwen [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 4, 2007 9:33 PM

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