Martin Reynolds said today: “We would respectfully remind the Archbishop of Canterbury of the Dromantine Communiqué where it says: ‘The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us.’ This is a flagrant example of victimisation that quite clearly intends to diminish Bishop Robinson’s status.”
Martin continues: “If the Archbishop of Canterbury is unable to follow the dictates of the Primates Group, yet alone the dictates of his own conscience, we are in a very unsafe state. We are deeply sorry for the failure of the Communion to live up to its own standards. Bishop Robinson and the diocese he was duly and canonically elected to serve have our full support and we believe they deserve much better. This decision places the vast majority of American bishops along with other through out the world in an embarrassing position. If they accept their Lambeth invitations this might appear to support Bishop Robinson’s victimisation, while if they reject the invitation they will abandon our Communion to the homophobes.”
It is likely Bishop Gene will be invited as a guest however. So I expect he will be there with us in the press office, as I cannot imagine there won’t be dozens of publications worldwide not willing to pay generously for his insight into the three weeks of proceedings.
But reading the letter, the line that moved me most was the bit at the end, about the “reply slip” attached to the letter, asking those invited to let Dr Williams know by 31 July this year whether they will be able to attend or not.
This is just so sweet. Like a vicarage tea party, almost.
I’ll have to give Ruth credit for not stooping low like the New York Times did when they mocked Sarah and SF.
“We are deeply sorry for the failure of the Communion to live up to its own standards” …too ironic!