Synod of the Church of England Supported the Ordination of Women to the Episcopate

They will make a final decision in 2012…

The Church of England took another step towards ordaining women to the episcopate. At the meeting of their Synod last weekend, they adopted a draft proposal governing the question. In particular, they attempted to placate the conservative faction; priests who do not wish to serve under the authority of a bishopess will have the opportunity to go under the authority of another bishop, according to the BBC. Now, the Synod shall submit the document for discussion in 43 dioceses of the C of E over the next few weeks, leading British newspapers reported. This consultation could last up to two years, the dioceses would be able to offer amendments [to the proposal], and the proposal along with the submitted amendments would be put to a vote at the General Synod in 2012. If that vote is positive, the first female bishop in the Church of England could be appointed in 2014. For approval, the document needs the support of at least a two-thirds majority vote in each of the three chambers of the General Synod, bishops, priests, and laity. In the Church of England since 1994, more than 5,000 women were ordained priests. Since then, more than 500 priests retired early due to this phenomenon, the C of E paid special compensation totalling 27.4 million pounds. In 2008, about 1,300 Anglican clergy threatened to leave the church if the Synod gave the green light to women in the episcopate.

13 July 2010

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=36442

Editor’s Note:

This has ramifications for us as Orthodox… John Behr, Jonas Paffhausen, and Chad Hatfield, in particular, defend the OCA’s concordat with the TEC unremittingly. When the OCA signed a pact with Nashotah House, they knowingly signed an agreement with an institution that does not intend to leave the TEC. That is, they implicitly support the principle of female ordination to the priesthood and episcopate, in so doing, they spat on the position of the Holy Church of Moscow and all the Russias… Moscow almost broke off all dialogue with the EKD because that body elected a bishopess as its head. That is to say, the OCA is going against the general flow of the Church. They will not abrogate their agreements with the TEC, even though it has female bishops and is headed by a bishopess (who spat on the OCA in particular by her actions at the time of her mother’s funeral… remember that one, kiddies? She pushed the Orthodox priest aside to conduct the service herself). Now, we have this… how much more do we need to conclude that the Anglican Communion is corrupt and putrid?

What does it tell us about those who willingly sign agreements with such a body? What does that tell us about those who honour the leaders of such a body? I know what it tells ME. As for you, make up your own mind…

BMD

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Pop Stars Vladimir Presnyakov and Natalia Podolskaya Got Married Again… This Time in an Orthodox Ceremony

Russian pop singers Natalia Podolskaya (1982- ) and Vladimir Presnyakov (1968- )

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Here’s some Natalia Podolskaya, Жар-птица (Firebird)

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Now, for some Vladimir Presnyakov… Странник (Wanderer)… yes… that’s his voice

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Why not something by the wedding guests? Here’s Leonid Agutin in Летний Дождь (Summer Shower)

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Let’s end with something by Angelika Varum, Зимняя Вишня (Winter Cherry)

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Well-known pop singers Vladimir Presnyakov and Natalia Podolskaya were married in an Orthodox ceremony on the feastday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the Moscow parish of the Holy Unmercenary Healers Cosmas and Damian. “The kids wanted to be married properly, but they had to wait until the Petrovsky Lent was over”, Vladimir Petrovich Presnyakov, the father of the groom, told the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. Just over a month ago, Vladimir and Natalia formally registered their marriage and had a civil wedding, but, in 2007, the artists had secretly married during a holiday in the United States in one of the famous wedding chapels in Las Vegas that provide an “instant service” marriage ceremony. Only very close relatives and best friends, including Leonid Agutin and Angelika Varum, were invited to attend the intimate wedding service.

13 July 2010

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=36446

Catholic Professor Fired For Criticising Homosexuality in the USA

I understand the U of Illinois coming down on Professor Howell like a ton of bricks… why did the Diocese of Peoria turn tail and run? I can tell you that my Catholic friends are better than that!

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The University of Illinois refused to extend the contract of a Catholic professor who criticised homosexual relations. A complaint lodged by one of his students precipitated the decision. The proximate cause was an e-mail sent by Professor Kenneth Howell, in which he wrote that only heterosexual sexual relations are licit. Professor Howell taught a course in Catholicism at the school. [The complaint] was in reference to a letter he addressed to students to help them prepare for his exam. “To teach students the dogmas of a religion is one thing, but to proclaim that homosexuality violates the natural laws of man is another”, the complaint stated. In turn, the [Roman Catholic] Diocese of Peoria (Illinois) fired Professor Howell as director of the Institute of Catholic Thought, according to the website catholicculture.org.

13 July 2010

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=36441

Here are links for further reading:

http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otc.cfm?id=668

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=6915

Editor’s Note:

My question is, “I understand why the U of Illinois fired Professor Howell, why did the Diocese of Peoria kick him when he was down? The excuse offered (in the second link above) was very thin, indeed”. Professor Howell could have stayed on campus (although, not as a professor) if he had retained his position with the Diocese of Peoria. I smell the same sort of noxious accommodation with the zeitgeist that one finds at SVS and amongst certain noisome “Orthodox” academics. “Where’s the beef?”

BMD

A Filter to Block Religious Websites and Content Introduced In the USA. **WARNING!!** This May Be an Internet Hoax!

Doesn’t this look… contrived? I smell a goof in the works… and all the Bubbas and Jim Bobs amongst the “Evangelicals” fell for it!

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A web filter, GodBlock, which blocks web materials of a religious nature, was introduced in the USA. As its creators noted, the filter is designed for parents and schools who want to protect their children from the “often cruel, psychologically harmful, and erotic material that is found in many religious texts alongside religious teachings“. This filter tests each site that a child uses for the presence in its text of characters and symbols related to religion, according to the website Religious Watch. By no means do the creators of this filter hide their atheistic views, indeed, they state openly that religious people stand in the way of progress.

12 July 2010

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=36439

Editor’s Note:

Is this for real? I have my doubts… it sounds like the sort of thing that only Pastor Jim Bob and the Church of the Holy Rollin’ n’ Shakin’ Snake Handlers and Poison Drinkers would believe. The “Evangelicals” are making a fuss… you know that they’re easily gulled. Look at the websites below and make up your own mind. I’m a sceptic on this one. Don’t be a Bubba…

http://www.godblock.com/

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101953-GodBlock-Keeping-Your-Children-Safe-on-the-Internet

BMD