Episcopal clergy continue support following Occupy Wall Street camp breakup in New York
Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * Christian Life / Church Life, * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, Consumer/consumer spending, Corporations/Corporate Life, Economy, Episcopal Church (TEC), Ethics / Moral Theology, Ministry of the Ordained, Parish Ministry, Pastoral Theology, Religion & Culture, Stock Market, The Banking System/Sector, The Credit Freeze Crisis of Fall 2008/The Recession of 2007--, Theology
So, who is more in tune with the latest zeitgeist? TEC or the United Methodists (see here for article -[url=http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5723451&ct=11491993¬oc=1]United Methodists see Occupy protest ties[/url]). Ah yes, coercive Christian Socialism at its best – “Please pass us another helping of Social Justice justification.”
It is disturbing that the Episcopal News Service considers this newsworthy.
I am amazed at the foolishness of our Episcopal leaders as expressed by the Bishop of Long Island demonstrates in the following comment,
[blockquote]Sniffen’s bishop, Lawrence Provenzano of the Diocese of Long Island, said he would encourage churches to provide shelter to protesters, adding, “that doesn’t mean that every church has to do it.”
“We need to allow this movement to be in our history so this conversation can be had. … I think nationally and internationally we need to have this conversation,” he said. “The church needs to respond to it. I’ve been supportive of my clergy who have gone down there. I have told them we would do anything that we could to somehow be of help.”[/blockquote]
Show me the communist or socialist nation that has advanced the one goal that the bishop should be focused on: spreading the Gospel of Christ.
Ironically, I got into a bit of a facebook snit last night with a friend of mine who is one of these Episcopal Chaplains to the Occupy crowd. She was convinced that Jesus would be an Occupy protester, and I, foolishly, asked on what Scriptural basis she rested that fine theological assertion. It denigrated quickly. I simply pointed out that the cops she was railing against also are working class folk, and maybe there are chaplains needed for those people too.
Where…you’d have thought I had suggested she kiss Hitler on the mouth. Let’s just say I haven’t been called a Fascist for quite some time.
Many of the “Occupy” events around the country have had people who have behaved like radical protesters in Germany during the 1920s. I am not saying that the majority of the protesters have behaved in this manner, but the protest leaders have not effectively taken measures to condemn and curb such behavior.
And a modifier to descibe this radical behavior is lawlessness. And if lawlessness is tolerated, then the rule of law is threatened and we are all threatened. Especially since some well known politicians who have supported the “Occupy” movement have not spoken out against this lawless behavior.
No. 4, that’s what scares me about the Occupy crowd. It is not that I am unsympathetic, but that the whole movement is tailor made for European Style Anarchists to take over.
Let’s not forget the protesters of 40 years ago. Individually they were as ridiculous and unfocused at the OWS people. However, there were easily manipulated, and eventually achieved a tragic outcome.
They’re not going down there to preach the Gospel to the protesters. They’e going in blatant political support. Maybe it was true some decades ago that the Episcopal Church was the Republican Party at prayer. It isn’t any more. TEC is increasingly radical leftists at prayer. Even the prayer is being jettisoned for the political revolution.
[b]CONVERSATION:[/b] The most overused word in the Episcopal language.