The Washington Post/Newsweek “On Faith” blog devoted last week to hearing from twenty-two Muslim scholars and leaders from around the world to answer three questions on violence, religious freedom and women’s issues. The editors of the blog, Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham, summarize the resulting dialogue.
Father Jake is keeping an eye on the meeting of the Anglican Communion Network’s annual council meeting in Texas. He wonders whether the Network’s leaders have been less than truthful in portraying the purpose of their organization.
Rod Dreher observes troubling class divisions within Christian denominations that traditionally have been attractive to all. He looks for answers, and the issues he raises should be important to the Episcopal Church as well. What are we doing to be the church for all?
A basketball referee is alleged to be on the take. A star quarterback is allegedly mixed up in dog fighting. And baseball most hallowed record will soon be held by a cheater. But, there’s good news from the world of sports, courtesy of Olympic speed skating medalist Joey Cheek, who is challanging the Chinese government over it support to the genocidal regime in Sudan.
The Spiritual Exercises is one of the most influential spiritual texts of all times. Despite their Reformation origins they are nowadays used as a medium for spiritual guidance and retreats among an ecumenical spectrum of Christians.
Here in an affluent area of a wealthy nation I sit and listen to people whose struggles to cover the cost of health insurance, child care, and retirement too often deplete the time and energy they need to relate to those they love. This is life, they tell themselves, and try to make the best of it. They are trapped in an ethic of individualism that leaves them alone and exhausted.
In his address Bishop Duncan said, “the Network Bishops have agreed to take part in the upcoming meeting [of the House of Bishops] with the Archbishop of Canterbury…. We do so … without any without any expectation that the Episcopal House of Bishops will turn from the course so unequivocally embraced at their March meeting.”
“It is my opinion that art lost its basic creative drive the moment it was separated from worship. In former days the artist remained unknown and his work was to the glory of God… Today the individual has become the highest form and the greatest bane of artistic creation.” So said Ingmar Bergmann, who died today at 89.
So long as the arguments were about whether or not The Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church of Canada were to be part of the Anglican Communion, communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury was seen as essential to being part of the Anglican Communion. Now that the arguments are about a Communion free of Western heresy, Canterbury is seen as a burden.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh is furnishing its parishes with a toolbox of “materials, opinions and news about the choices facing the diocese and each parish in light of the decision of The Episcopal Church not to place moratoria on same-sex blessings and the election of bishops in same-sex relationships and to unequivocally reject the request of Pittsburgh and six other dioceses for Alternative Primatial Oversight.”