But ”“ flanked by 1,500 other faith leaders, diplomats, politicians and charity heads ”“ there was no mistaking their unity yesterday as they moved as one body in the name of justice and peace for the higher causes of their mission. Among those joining them were Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster; Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi; Sir Iqbal Sacranie; Dr Indarjit Singh; and other senior representatives of Muslim and Sikh organisations.
Inside Lambeth Palace, Dr Williams’s home and the scene of several stormy controversies in recent months, the bishops listened to a clearly moved Gordon Brown as he showed that he had heard their message. “A hundred years is too long to wait for justice and that is why we must act now,” Mr Brown said. “You have sent a symbol, a very clear message with rising force that poverty can be eradicated, poverty must be eradicated and if we all work together for change poverty will be eradicated.”
I love that picture too. It illustrates the pathetic nature of the current Anglican Communion’s view of Christian social responsibility better than any thousand words. A bunch of self-important looking people, who apparently don’t realize that purple robes are for liturgical purposes and not for prancing about in public, making utterly absurd spectacles of themselves carrying protest signs as if they were 1960s college students. Wasting their time entirely on a fool’s errand that will not feed one hungry person. If I were a spiritual seeker looking for a church where I could find God, I would, after seeing that picture, strike that one off the list immediately.
They were rapturously received by Prime Minister Brown. He did not promise, of course, to increase foreign aid, or to do anything specific to reduce poverty in his jurisdiction. Hs simply revelled in the orgy of self-congratulation and assured them that he shared their vision (as he does, being as he does not intend to do anything real to cut poverty in half by 2015 either).
Wow, a Promise Keepers rally!
We have a bumpy ride ahead, but the truth is most of the world has been moving out of poverty in the past couple decades, through adopting capitalism and ‘western’ principles of law and accounting. The real problem lies with what Paul Collier calls ‘The Bottom Billion’, who remain trapped in poverty because of bad governance, conflict, being landlocked and relying on natural resources (oil, diamonds etc). This is where the focus should be. Why Zimbabwe is so poor is painfully obvious.
What would be truly amazing is to see those same people (or any group that same size) walking through London with signs saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Right, Steve. Where is Graham Kendricks with his “March for Jesus” when you need him?