Same-Sex Marriage - Rowan and Church 'embarrassed'!

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has been extremely critical of Prime Minister, David Cameron over the 'embarrassment' to the Church over the issue of same-sex marriage. Rowan points to the fact that the Church has been given firm assurances that no pressure would be brought to bear on it regarding conducting such services. The problem comes about with the fact that all have the right to be married in Church; of course 'marriage' here is taken as a word which relates to the joining of two people (one of each sex).

Of course, changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples means that one could extrapolate this to say that all couples (homosexual and heterosexual) have the right and there is (as Rowan puts it) the potential for a bit of a tangle!

He (Rowan) also says that the Church should have pressed harder for civic equality and it was wrong in not doing so and I not only agree with that but also feel in the civil partnership the means of creating a legally recognised partnership has been given and so see the redefinition of marriage as divisive and unnecessary (not a popular view with some I'm sure). Take this and the fact that the Church of England has (quite surprisingly) nailed its colours to the mast over this issue) and it's obvious that there is a collision on the way - especially when those ConDem(ed) Coalition pair of quasi-believers (Cameron and Clegg) play their 'bigot' cards on this issue.
(note. They aren't the bigots, this term is reserved for those who don't see things their way ;-) )

Seems to me that Rowan has pitched his complaints about right and the efforts of a confused, people-pleasing bunch who fail to see the differences between civil and faith related issues (and condem those of faith who make a principalled stand) are seeking to divide the nation and deconstruct the constitution too! Something which, as our nation becomes increasingly secular will see it losing the elements that have made it socially caring and compassionate.

Well done Rowan, it's good to see some leadership for you as your swan song, your words on public theology and political integrity of late have been an encouragement and a joy. Just a shame you didn't sing earlier and louder!

Synod - What is there to enjoy?

This morning I managed to turn off R4's Sunday programme before the dross and drivel, vacillation and lack of charity and love from that august (I know it's July) pile of something or other got to infiltrate my brain and thus damage the celebrations remembering that He is Risen and our being a Eucharist reality!

I don't approve of the NF, BNP, the Socialist Worker's Party, Manchester United, Tottenham and a great many other bodies besides but I do think that when we live in a democracy the right to choose, even when it is (in my opinion) a wrong choice, is the right of each and every person. But apparently the Church of England (via the synod) doesn't seem to think like me (at which some may celebrate). Rather than legislate surely we, above all others, should be in the business of dialogue, renewing of the mind and a light touch. But no - we merely legislate it seems ;-(

But then again we come to the issue of women bishops and those who have theological difficulties with this (and as priests too!). What do I hear but certain types wittering on about mysogynists and the  'church having no place for them'. Those who shout loudest about having been acted against for so long and who often support what many consider unsupportable for that very reason can forget their higher ideals when it comes to this. Sad and shameful is what I see this as being. We are a via media and it's odd (and sad) that some can suddenly make it a very narrow lane.

So 'Synod'? Just off the blocks and it is depressing and divisive. The tail wags the dog and (if the smug 'look at me I'm on synod' types I've met are anything to go by) it is populated by a bunch of well-meaning sorts and even more wallies of the most extreme kind (plus some extremely sound and intellegent sort who appear to be the minority grouping).

Talk of twittering to influence voting and the mutterings and pseudo-political horse trading that I have been hearing and reading of leave me extremely cold indeed. I thought we were supposed to be something a little better than this and yet when the covers are removed what we find underneath shows that we are a pretty sad bunch indeed and rather less of a spiritual (and sound) body than we might have hoped for.

Going off to celebrate the resurrection and engage in our being a Eucharistic body and not (thank God) a political one.

I'll leave that to General Synod!