The Episcopal Church has suspended one of its priests, Anne Holmes Redding, for one year after her announcement this summer that she is both a Christian and a Muslim. A local Muslim leader’s speech to Redding’s church two years ago inspired her to begin attending Muslim prayer services while she was still serving her local diocese.
Listen to it all from NPR’s Day to Day Program. Pay particular attention to what she says she believes about Jesus.
If Ann Holmes Redding had any integrity, she would realize that she has apostacized as respects Christianity and resign her orders. She cannot say either of hte Creeds with integrity unless she “postmoderns” the words into something they were never intended to mean.
What this shows me is the terrible job that we do in the formation of the laity, let alone the clergy. If we have bishops and priests who just shrug this off as “oh, well, that’s exciting,” then we have much bigger problems that the blessing of SSUs. Of course, I submit that the same attitude towards scripture and the authority of the Church and its doctrines that lead to blessing SSUs also lead, ultimately, to an attitude that finds someone who denies the basics of the faith and is a priest “exciting.”
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
I thought Ms. Redding was supposed to refrain from Episcopal priestly “duties.” Doesn’t sound like she’s reflecting, rather that she’s promoting her position. Vincent Warner won’t do anything but I would think the Bishop of Rhode Island would.
This is the same faith that calls for your head if you convert from Islam to Christianity. Hmmm. Sadly, she will probably be still on the payroll a year from now. Can you just feel the love?
Already those hybrid embryo experiments are starting to go awry.
“. . . priests who just shrug this off as “oh, well, that’s exciting,†then we have much bigger problems than the blessing of SSUs.” PS
Yes, Phil we do have much bigger problems!
The “be nice” virus and the “above all don’t offend anyone” virus have infected the laity. That’s why we need our priests to “call us out” a bit in their sermons.
Can someone print out the text of r his speech for me so I can read it? Thanks. Larry
After listening to the NPR piece, I don’t know which is worst: Redding or her “Parish” that just accepts her without question.
H
Wilfred, i’m ROFL.
You are hereby awarded one free pass to The Laffin’ Place.
I’m just curious … while we are all focusing on Ann Holmes-
Redding the much touted St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in SF has a practicing Sufi-Muslim/Episcopalian on its non-stipe staff. I believe, but am not totally sure, that this practicing Sufi-Muslim is also a priest. I know its San Francisco and California but Washington and Seattle is just as wacky. Just curious as to why Holmes-Redding has been disciplined by Rhode Island but nothing has occurred in California.
Redding needs to meet and hear Brigette Gabriel, http://www.americancongressfortruth.com/. Better yet, read her book: “Because They Hate” by a CHRISTIAN survivor of Islamic Terrorism.
I agree with No. 8; what a parish. They all need our prayers.
In the meantime today some Roman Catholic sites are reporting the Vatican and American Catholic bishops are in the process of setting straight a Catholic theologian at Georgetown University. It seems he has written some things that question the One Lordship of Jesus Christ and his unique role as Saviour. Compared to this Christian-Moslem Episcopal syncretist the theologian’s undermining of the Faith is mild. Hopefully, the pope and bishops will continue to take vigorous preventive action to protect the Roman Catholic Church from the same doctrinal chaos and weaknesses afflicting so many mainstream Protestant denominational heirs to the Reformation even regarding core doctrinal and moral teachings.
Deacon John,
The cool thing about being Catholic is that I know that my Church actually has a structure where discipline can happen. It kind of makes the silly stuff tolerable when you know that someone can stop the silly stuff.
#10 wamack,
[i]I’m just curious … while we are all focusing on Ann Holmes-
Redding the much touted St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in SF has a practicing Sufi-Muslim/Episcopalian on its non-stipe staff.[/i]
Not all Sufi lineages require that one convert to Islam. There are Sufi lineages in America where one is free to maintain one’s non-Islamic practices and faith-commitments. Perhaps the case you mention involves such a Sufi lineage?
#14 That might be. I don’t know.
The former Presiding Bishop thought the Sufi Rumi was the bees’ knees, as I remember.
#14 & #16 Now, thing to remember here is that the whole Sufi tradition is considered more than suspect by the Islamic mainstream.
It’s a bit like using Spong to support a theological point in Hinduism.
Jon R
#17 JonReinert,
It may be true that Sufis are often looked at suspiciously by many other Muslims; but how much of that suspicion is itself a result of the influence of the dreaded Wahhabi? In addition, Sufism, since it is quite experiential and (dare I say it?) mystical, has been faulted by some Muslims for the abysmal scientific and technological condition of the modern Muslim world; add to that the connection between Sufism and Islamic folk religion; and you see Sufism being blamed for the sad state of Islamic affairs. In the race to catch up with the West, it would seem ‘natural’ for many Muslims to distance themselves from what is perceived to be ‘superstition’. (But, given that much of Western science was inspired by Hermeticism, Alchemy, and Neo-Platonic mysticism, Sufism might actually be what Islam needs to embrace, instead of shun. Any CIA, NSA, and Homeland Security-types listening, pay heed.)
I finally had a chance to listen last night. I really wonder, and I’m not trying to be snarky, but how did Miss Redding get through the discernment process, including the psychological exam? I’m also curious (if anyone is still looking at this) how does she fall under the juridiction of the Bishop of Rhode Island? Isn’t that sort of thing only for priests who are working in a different profession or are retired? She was on the staff of the cathedral! How is it that she wasn’t under Warner’s authority? Having said that I will add “Thank God she wasn’t! The folks in Seattle think it’s swell!
#13 — trooper: the uncool thing about being a Catholic are the many tenants of your Faith that are totally abhorant to scripture that, of course, do not require any discpline by the Holy Church.
Steve, not only was that uncalled for and off topic, but also irrelevant and untrue (as a CAREFUL study of Catholic theology will show, instead of merely reading Jack Chick tracts). Unless of course you forgot to include the ‘wink’ emoticon. 😉
#21…. Well, my two best friends are a Benedictine and a Franciscan, so I have a lot of warm feelings about Catholics. Honest. On the other hand, LJ, by fair: it’s not just Chick tracts that are critical of Romish Doctrines. Thomas Cranmer, for example, was not a know-nothing fundamentalist. Take a look at the 39 Articles for example:
XXII. Of Purgatory.
The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.
or
XXVIII. Of the Lord’s Supper.
… Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions…. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was not by Christ’s ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.
or
XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross.
… Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits.
Actually the language there is a lot of fun. If modern day Catholics and Evangelicals can lighten up a little, it’s clear that the Reformers had a GREAT time writing that and we can admit it’s pretty funny. I mean, let’s be honest: the phrase “blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits” must have taken them a while to come up with and they must have really been pleased when they did.
Actually the children’s song the Hokey Pokey appears to have originated in the Reformation era as a satire on the Latin Mass. There’s something REALLY fun imagining all these solemn Reformers crowded around a table like members of the Harvard Lampoon coming up with that song. At least I hope that happened. 🙂