We believe in Inclusion, the first and foremost virtue as long as we do not include those who believe that the calling to be a Christian involves embracing a chaste lifestyle or that when we fall, we are to confess our sins, and seek absolution; outmoded and stigmatizing habits not to be countenanced in our Brave New World. We believe in including all religions in equality and suspend judgment about any elements in other religions which may be perhaps unfortunate, poor dears!
We intend to celebrate every cause that comes along as long as we don’t use the word “sin” or imply that anyone sins except for those who are branded by their refusal to accept our latitudinarian lifestyles. We intend to doubt every article of the Creeds and to accept every article of the belief-systems of other religious groups.
I’ve been rereading Civil War history lately. One thing that strikes me again is how the division between North and South became in large part because the North’s (and especially the Republican Party’s) position was widely mischaracterized in the South. Southern newspapers, orators, and politicians routinely claimed that the North thought want it didn’t and planned what it didn’t.
Please understand, I am NOT equating anyone’s position in the current matter with slavery. But when emotions run high and positions become entrenched, it’s imperative that the two sides see each other clearly and each understand the true position of the other.
I do think that, just as Southern extremists painted as radical a picture of the North’s views as possible to whip people up to succession, articles like this paint a distorted and radical picture of the TEC mainstream’s true position. And for the same reason: to justify splitting the parent body.
Hugh, you took the words right outof my mouth! The polemic in this struggle has become so shrill and trenchant over the past four years that it is virtually impossible to discern what the truth is on either side of the conflict.
This is the first post I’ve read in the past year by Fr. Tony that troubles me. I have a great respect for his thoughfulness and his ability to articulate perspectives with clarity and force. I think this one pushes the boundary toward the radical. I must respectfully disagree with the way the priest’s note he’s commenting on characterizes TEC. I don’t think it truly reflects the mind of the Church; it caricatures some worthy concepts and claims a “creed” that simply does not exist.
Bob-
What is so radical about it? While it might be biting satire, it is not untruthful. Sin is a concept that is ridiculed and unwelcome in the National Structure. FOrgiveness is unnecessary as sin is an antiquated notion that was good for over a millenium but no longer applicable to human behavior. Bravo to Fr. Tony. I pray for his speedy recovery. May I also pray for you?….and I bid you, of your Christian charity, would you pray for me?
BigTex AC
I don’t think there is an active intent to doubt the creeds, just an authority that supercedes them.
Funny, until I went and read the entire posting I thought he was describing the ELCA!
BigTex, I welcome your prayers and offer you mine. I too wish Fr. Tony a speedy recovery, and God’s grace as he seeks a new charge. If I misread satire, that is an embarrassing slip on my part, as I’m usually pretty good at picking it out, and sometimes at writing it.
I repsectfully disagree with your sweeping generalization about the attitude toward sin in what you refer to as “the National Structure.” While my knowledge doesn’t cover 110 dioceses, this assertion doesn’t reflect my own direct experiences both at the parish and at the national level in the Church. (I’ll be reading General Ordination Exams in two weeks, and will see what this present group of seminarians have to say about sin. Moral theology is one of the areas of concentration.)
Grace and peace.
Good job, Fr. Tony: it perfectly describes the denomination my family and I fled two years ago.
Those who are saying that Fr. Clavier’s “creed” is satire haven’t noted that he said that it is a summation of the constant themes posted to the HOBD listserv. As a kibitzer reading those digests, I can vouch for the accuracy of this satire which actually is no satire, but a concise distillation of the unwritten creed behind the crossed fingers of many while reciting the Nicean Creed.
In the public realm, I think it is a better idea to offer the best argument of your opponent. I don’t think he does that.
#9- wonderful observation which is a conspicuous part of both the Gospels and Epistles.
Spot on. TEC at the National Level has become a Monty Pythonesq parady of a Church. In some Dioceses and certainly many parishes – life continues on much as it did pre- 1975. But the Church at the top has been hijacked by Northeast and left coast liberals with a large subset of the foregoing being homosexual activists. TEC is now the Gay Church and therefore traditional notions of Sin must be jettisioned – otherwise the new powers that be might be offended.
[i]TEC at the National Level has become a Monty Pythonesq parady of a Church.[/i]
Nobody expects the TEC inquisition!