The mountains in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro State have been affected by the worst rainstorms in their history. In cities such as Teresópolis, Petrópolis and Nova Friburgo, hundreds of people have instantly died due to mudslides that caused entire hills to collapse. It is by far considered the worst catastrophe in Brazilian history.
It seems incongruous to argue, as supporters of the Covenant do, that it is exceedingly significant document that is required to save the Anglican Communion, but that it pass only the most minimal test a democracy allows.
Mixed news from Brisbane: while thousands are put to work cleaning up, uncertainty continues.
People throughout southern Sudan have been “shedding tears and shouting for joy” this week as polls opened to voters in the historic Jan. 9-15 referendum that will determine a likely future of independence for the African nation.
The Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall, Primate of Australia, has written to the bishops about the floods sweeping the northeastern Australian state of Queensland.
Of course my dream would have been that when I said: “We’re going to submit to the Holy See,” everyone would have followed me and done so that the priests, the churches and congregations would do so en bloc, which they haven’t.
In response to the flooding in Queensland, Australia, Friday will be a world day of prayer for those affected by this disaster.
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon is the Bishop of Kaduna, in the Church of Nigeria has written to the Primates of the Anglican Communion urging them to attend the Primates Meeting, which will be held in Dublin from January 25th through the 31st.
We do have other images we might imagine for “an organic communion.” We might, for example, think about the vine and the branches. It speaks to us of growth that is rooted in Christ, but that can lead in a variety of directions. It speaks to us of fruitfulness, and can connect in our reflections to the blood of Christ, which we receive in the Eucharist and in which we are cleansed from sin.
Spoiler Alert: The Anglican Communion is – drumroll, please – a communion. Dark predictions that a Covenant will only further promote autonomy may be ignoring the fact that that’s the way things have been for a long time.