Final decision from the Bishop of London
In a letter to clergy in the diocese (October 24th 2008) the Assistant Bishop of London declares that since Martin Dudley has apologised, the case is now considered closed.
– Read the letter here at Reform London.
For earlier stories, see here.
(Photo of Bishop Richard Chartres: Diocese of London.)
Anglican bishop seeks OK to bless same-sex marriages
An Anglican church in Ottawa may soon be the second in Canada to bless same-sex marriages.
Bishop John Chapman plans to ask the Canadian House of Bishops next week if he can develop an appropriate rite, then designate one parish — possibly Saint John the Evangelist on Somerset Street — to offer blessings to gay couples already married in a civil ceremony…
– Report from The Ottawa Citizen. (Photo: The Anglican Journal.)
Connect09 orders due next week
Just a reminder for Sydney parishes – the phase 1 orders for Connect09 Gospels (versions in English, Chinese and Arabic) close next Friday (October 31). Don’t miss out!
(See also The Essential Jesus.)
How free is your religion?
Dr Andrew Cameron, chairman of the (Sydney) Diocesan Social Issues Executive –
“The ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief Project’ is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC, formerly HREOC), the government’s main advisory body on human rights.
Researchers for the AHRC want to study the state of religious freedom in Australia. Their research will cover a variety of areas, and they will produce a report to the Federal government in 2010 which will probably recommend legislative changes…
The project could be a good thing if it brings to light any inappropriate limitations on the freedom of religion and belief. Or, it may be unhelpful if it recommends changes that damage the delicate balance of religion freedoms that have developed in Australian life. We don’t know yet. But this is an important enough project that some of us want to do our part to be actively involved as citizens.”
Dr Cameron, is presenting a seminar on the project next Thursday –
‘Freedom of Religion and Belief Project’ Information Hour
A seminar presented by Andrew Cameron,
chairman, Diocesan Social Issues Executive
Thursday 30th October 2008
5.30pm-6.30pm
Chapter House, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney Square.
No RSVP necessary.
Only a limited number of copies of the relevant Australian Human Rights Commission discussion paper will be available. You can download your own copy here before the seminar. It might help to skim pp. 8-11 of that paper before the meeting.
For further background, see Social Issues briefing #079 (PDF file, direct link).
For more information from the AHRC, see
Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century and
Freedom of Religion and Belief.
Right to Death
Writing in The Guardian [London], Simon Jenkins argues that the right to end one’s life on one’s own terms is basic to humanity, and that only “religious primitivism” stands in the way of cultural acceptance and legal approved for assisted suicide…
– Al Mohler writes about the growing Culture of Death.
Bp John Broadhurst – strong words on Lambeth
At the UK Forward in Faith National Assembly two weeks ago, Bishop John Broadhurst, Bishop of Fulham within the Diocese of London and Chairman of Forward in Faith, spoke about the betrayal of Anglicanism he felt at Lambeth and from the UK General Synod.
The 21MB mp3 file (direct link) runs for 22 minutes.
Related: Forward in Faith UK reacts to C of E vote (July 8, 2008.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…