Anglican stance on same-sex marriage ‘morally contemptible’, says gay cleric; Former atheist to hit the road for Christian Aid; Olympics choir to perform at special Paralympics Mass
Anglican stance on same-sex marriage ‘morally contemptible’, says gay cleric
Jeffrey John, the dean of St Albans, accuses Rowan Williams of hardening the Church of England’s attitude to gay marriage
The most senior openly gay cleric in Britain has accused the Church of England of pursuing a “morally contemptible” policy on same-sex marriage, denouncing it for moving “in the opposite direction” to society and criticising Rowan Williams for changing his “public position” on the issue as soon as he was made Archbishop of Canterbury.
In a new preface to his 1990 booklet on gay relationships, Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans, writes that, by setting themselves against same-sex marriage, the bishops of the Church have prioritised the union of the Anglican communion over the rights of gay Christians.
“This policy may be institutionally expedient, but it is morally contemptible,” he writes in an abridged extract of the preface published in the Guardian. “Worst of all, by appeasing their persecutors it betrays the truly heroic gay Christians of Africa who stand up for justice and truth at risk of their lives. For the mission of the Church of England the present policy is a disaster.”
John writes that, contrary to the expectations of those who had expected Williams to introduce a new tone in the Church’s stance on homosexuality, the Church’s line has in fact “continued to harden” during his near-decade as Archbishop of Canterbury.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/14/anglicans-gay-marriage-jeffrey-john
Former atheist to hit the road for Christian Aid
A former atheist who was saved from depression by turning to Christianity is to cycle 150 miles for Christian Aid
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/former.atheist.to.hit.the.road.for.christian.aid/30474.htm
Olympics choir to perform at special Paralympics Mass
The choir that performed at the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony will again be performing in connection with the Games, this time for a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the Paralympics.
The Dockhead Choir was the opening act of the Olympic opening ceremony.
They will be accompanied by an orchestra when they perform during the Mass of Thanksgiving at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on 8 September.
The choir will again sing the first verse of Jerusalem live and unaccompanied, dressed in the same attire they wore at the Olympic stadium.
“It will be a slightly different version of Jerusalem on this occasion to that sung at the opening ceremony,” explained Canon Maclean, Dockhead’s parish priest, who will be directing the choir.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/olympics.choir.to.perform.at.special.paralympics.mass/30473.htm