Tuesday, there were four items about which I wanted to comment, but I could pick only one. Jake, how did you chose what was most important? Today’s post is from Tuesday. For some reason, the blog-gods omitted part of my post and sent it out hours before it was scheduled. Here is the full text.
My granny used to say, “You’re never free from surprises until you’re dead.” How correct she was.
It seems that the gay mafia has a hit on Archbishop Orombi.
Now, my first response was to laugh. If he materializes into every Anglican Church in the western world next Sunday, I bet less than one percent of the world’s Anglicans would have any clue who he is. As for the GLBT community, I will wager that number is at 0.001 of a percent. Why would any group put a hit out on a man whom less than one in 50,000 people even know is alive? I mean, who, exactly, does Orombi think he is.
My second response was sadness -- great sadness. How horrible it must be to be Mr. Orombi. To be filled with so much hate is detrimental to a one’s mental and spiritual state
Let's consider Orombi’s statement from an article at New Vision. You really have to read the entire brief article.
“Nowadays, I don’t wear my collar when I am in countries which have supporters of homosexuals,” he said while addressing Christians at Kitunga archdeaconry,
“I am forced to dress like a civilian because those people are dangerous. They can harm anybody who is against them. Some of them are killers. They want to close the mouth of anybody who is against them.”
He argued that God created men and women so that they could have children and fill the world so that the generations could continue. “So where do the homosexuals want to get their children?” he asked.
“They” are dangerous. “They” are killers. “They” are out to recruit children. What a strong statement of love from this Christian. What an ignorant statement it is, too.
This is symptomatic of a man who has mental problems not to mention a hugely over inflated ego. One must wonder how he and Akinola can be friends – to super egos in the same room at the same time.
It is a grandstanding in an attempt to shift the focus from his homophobic words and deed to portraying himself as a martyr. Why do all the leaders of the schism have martyr complexes?
He says the world’s gays are out to kill him but he does not offer a shred of evidence. How typical. Duncan, Schofield, Aknola – all have had death threats and none has produced the documentation.
The people who are truly in danger have the evidence. Bishop Robinson has produced the letters, cards, e-mail that prove the threats against him, his husband, and his family.
I took the liberty of e-mailing the Archbishop at the only e-mail address listed on the
Dear Archbishop Orombi;
I was greatly concerned when I read your recent comment regarding the threats against your life by the gay community. These threats need to be publicized. Would you please be so kind as to supply me with copies of the death threats so that I may post them on my blog?
Sincerely,
James
I will post his reply.
There is a wee article by Steven Addison over on Reuters UK Blog about Lambeth, women bishops and gay clergy. The entry is entitled Jesus is “weeping on the streets.”
It is not often that you can say that businesses seem to have higher moral values than the church, but most business do not condone discrimination and believe in equality and diversity and treating everyone with respect….unlike the church which believes in bigotry and prejudice.
Perhaps we should all start acting like adults and just take responsibility for our own lives rather than leave it to the church……and if you need to have a belief…then let’s believe in the [Mark’s and Spenser’s] equality policy….it’s bound to be far more enlightened than any church!
Mr. Chalmers’ comment hit me like a brick because it is spot on about a segment of the church and, indeed, of all Christendom. The religious institutions are just about the last place that open discrimination (misogyny and homophobia) can and are legally practiced – openly, joyfully, and bostingly practiced.
Fortunately there are a few churches who have moved beyond the last bastion of discrimination and are fighting for equality. No, not for equality – for justice and to follow Jesus command to love our sisters and brothers, friends and strangers, as we love ourselves.
If Mr. Orombi and his ilk shared 0.001 percent of the self-love they have, the world would be turned upside down again for Jesus.
My childhood/teenage years priest, The Rev. Richard Beaumont used to say, “Whenever I encounter a person who is so filled with hate against anything or any group, I see a person with bloody strong leanings in that direction.” It's sad that there are still those who feel that in order to feel adequate, they must attack and vilify another group. That is not a Christian virtue.
UPDATE:
.jpg)
Posts
|