"If renewed Anglicanism has a future, it is because it is rooted in the past, in the catholic heritage of the undivided Church. This summer's International Catholic Congress of Anglicans will help us all to see more deeply both what this means, and how we are empowered and challenged to live this out." --- Fr. Lawrence Bausch

No warmth within. Some preachers have a great horror of emotionalism. So have I, if this means the artificial stirring of the emotions by rhetorical tricks or other devices. But we should not fear genuine emotion. If we can preach Christ crucified and remain altogether unmoved, we must have a hard heart indeed. More to be feared than emotion is cold professionalism, the dry, detached utterance of a lecture which has neither heart nor soul in it. Do man's peril and Christ's salvation mean so little to us that we feel no warmth rise within us as we think about them? --- John R.W. Stott

Everything that you could care about, if you care about social justice and you care about limited government, if you care about the poor and you care about freedom, is better served by a healthy, intact marriage culture than by big-government programs that try to pick up the pieces. --- Caitlin Thomas

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
March 13, 2015

Homophobia and hate have become the bywords galvanizing the pansexual community, driving orthodox believers into thinking that any criticism of their behavior will get them tossed out of their churches, military chaplaincies, homes and eventually, if pushed...into jail.

It is the great lie repeated over and over until it becomes the truth. Orthodox Anglicans do not hate homosexuals. I have never ever heard an Anglo-Catholic or evangelical Episcopal or Anglican priest declare his hatred of homosexuals from a pulpit or even in casual conversation. It has never happened. It probably never will. What evangelicals (more than Anglo-Catholics) have said and continue to say is that homosexual behavior is wrong, is not sustained by Scripture, is medically dangerous, has higher incidences of suicide (not because of hate), and that relationships in the gay community are tenuous at best. All of this is well documented. At general conventions it is the crazy Westboro Baptist Church folk with their "God Hates Fags" banners that are an embarrassment to everybody including myself and orthodox Anglicans.

Your run of the mill rector never talks about homosexuality. Only once did I hear an Episcopal priest, now a bishop, declare his support for Lambeth Resolution 1:10. He got royally blasted by his vestry chairman who finally left the church over the priest's support for that resolution which, if you recall was resoundingly supported by the vast majority of Anglicans around the world. (One wonders what dark secret the vestryman held to cause such a violent reaction and rift in his friendship of 20 years. The priest in question was devastated by this man's reaction and it took him a year or more to get over it.)

So it got me thinking, who really hates who in this culture war issue that has caused a realignment in the Anglican Communion. As I thought more about it, it became apparent to me that the real haters were progressive/liberal/revisionist Episcopalians and Anglicans who want their way at all and any cost; to get it they must not only marginalize but throw out and jail any and all opposition to their drive for full pansexual acceptance and normalization of their behavior.

I have written at length about this in my lead story which you can read in today's digest: http://tinyurl.com/p8sm3gg

*****

If you have any doubts about the pansexual steamroller in secular society but more particularly in the military, I urge you to read Ladson F. Mills piece about Navy Chaplain, Lieutenant Commander Wes Modder, a stellar soldier, with the best evaluations, stands relieved of duties by the very same officer -- who had once regarded him so highly -- as "unable to function in the environment of the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command".

His crime: during a counseling session he expressed his personal belief that homosexuality as well as any sex outside the marital bond is wrong. For this egregious error he must pay the price of his reputation and career.

Chaplain Modder was under the belief that the young man who had sought his counseling was struggling. He had become aware during these sessions that he was increasingly being pressed as to his personal beliefs regarding homosexuality; eventually he shared them. What has become evident is that he was intentionally set up by an openly gay man with a same sex partner. On December 6th, two Equal Opportunity officers arrived at his office carrying five pages of complaints against him for discrimination against the man with whom he had been counseling.

You can read the full story in today's digest or here: http://tinyurl.com/ob4oy6g

*****

The battle for properties in the Diocese of Ft. Worth, which began in 2007, drags on and on, and will only end, it seems, when the faux diocese of Ft. Worth, led by Bishop Rayford High (the third TEC Fort Worth Provisional bishop), loses in the last court and the diocese falls over in sheer exhaustion like an aging dinosaur.

So why do TEC and this diocese keep litigating and spending millions of dollars? I put it to you that it is hate -- hatred of orthodoxy and all it stands for. It is the one thing that keeps Jefferts Schori and revisionists up at night. You see, orthodoxy is the one thorn in the side of progressivism that prevents it from winning the culture wars, the ecclesiastical wars, and the battle for properties. Liberals have no ability to plant new churches; they can't make churches grow. They can only steal what is not theirs and twist them to their way of thinking. In the end, that destroys the church. Is it any wonder that orthodox bishops like Jack Iker and Mark Lawrence refuse to give up without a fight?

You can read May Ann Mueller's fine reflection in today's digest or here:
http://www.virtueonline.org/case-all-saints-fort-worth-drags-and-and

*****

Here's a thought. Why is offering reparative therapy or change for homosexuals considered a "hate crime" and unacceptable while a sex change operation (a man goes from becoming a man to a woman and vice versa) is considered okay, even eulogized, as discovering one's true identity?

There is no genetic evidence that one is born gay, so why is change unacceptable for one group of people, but totally acceptable for another group? Gender identity apparently trumps sexual orientation simply because one feels their identity is not what it once was.

*****

It should be the beginning of a joke and, in a way, I suppose it is: a Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Jainist, and Christian all walk into Lambeth Palace; they look at the Christian and decide he doesn't belong.

NEWS ITEM: The Archbishop of Canterbury last night hosted a reception for inter-religious and community leaders at Lambeth Palace.

Speaking at the annual event, which brings together members different faith groups to foster relationships, Archbishop Justin Welby reflected on the theme of reconciliation, which is one of his ministry priorities.

The event was attended by a wide range of people from Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Jain, and Christian traditions.

I can think of a couple of reasons why Welby might do this, neither of which has anything to do with the hope of converting anyone, least of all the visitors, to Christianity.

The first is to demonstrate the pride with which Western Anglicanism holds firm to the proposition that it doesn't much matter what anyone believes, so long as we can all get along.

The second is to disabuse those who are under the mistaken impression that the Anglican trinitarian god has three persons named diversity, inclusion, and equality; no, the one true Anglican god is now named Reconciliation.

The third is related to the first and second. If Jesus had simply learned to get along with everyone, to reconcile with them, he wouldn't have ended up on that embarrassing cross, removing a major stumbling block in our getting along with Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, and Jainists.

Fourth, Justin Welby has finally realized that it is easier to find agreement between Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, and Jainists than between Anglicans.

I write in jest, of course. To be absolutely serious, Welby tells us what this was really all about: the need to create a space that is relational: a void into which one can jettison unwanted relations. What could be clearer than that?

*****

If you think that The Episcopal Church has the corner on crazy stuff -- like letting a Muslim prayer group into Washington National Cathedral to hold forth their beliefs -- reflect on the fact that it is now going on in the Church of England.

A leading liberal clergyman in London defended his right to offer services of thanksgiving after gay weddings and to hold a full Muslim prayer service in his church.

Rev. Giles Goddard, vicar of St John's Waterloo, said his aim is to help his church live out the CofE's values in central London.

"It is very much about St John's being a place of welcome," he told Christian Today. "We understand God as a generous God, a God who celebrates love and celebrates life."

He was committed to engaging with the whole community, he added. "We try and make sure we live that out. In that sense we feel very properly Anglican."

St. John's recently hosted an "Inclusive Jummah" in partnership with the Inclusive Mosque Initiative. Led by Dr. Amina Wadud, it was timed for the run up to International Women's Day last weekend. Dr. Wadud is a long-time campaigner for gender justice in Islam.

St John's also offers thanksgivings and dedications to couples after civil marriages, including same-sex marriages, although so far no one has requested such a service.

*****

Islam can be a violent faith, says the Rev. Gavin Ashenden, the Queen's chaplain. The Canon expressed his concerns about 100 passages in the Koran that "invite people to violence." The occasional columnist for VOL said the Bible instead preaches forgiveness and delivering people from sin. Asked if the Koran was "evil," he said "I will let people decide for themselves."

You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

Ever wondered what happened to the Communion Partner Bishops -- those orthodox Episcopal bishops who issue minority reports at general conventions on hot button issues?

Originally there were 16...now there are only seven active bishops, less than half of what there once was. This does not include those bishops who have left TEC and gotten themselves inhibited and deposed by Jefferts Schori: Jack Iker, Keith Ackerman, William Wantland, John-David Schofield, Edward MacBurney, Andrew Fairfield, Terence Kelshaw, Peter Beckwith, Robert Duncan, David Bane, Mark Lawrence, and David Bena.

Jefferts Schori also attempted to inhibit Church of England Bishop Henry Scriven, who was serving as an assistant in Pittsburgh and returned to his native England; Bishop William Cox (Maryland - Suffragan) when he exercised his episcopal ministry at the request of African Archbishop Luke Orombi of the Anglican Church of Uganda, a member province of the Anglican Communion; and Bishop Mark MacDonald (VII Alaska & Assisting Navajoland) when he was tapped as Canada's first National Indigenous Bishop by the Anglican Church of Canada. This list does not include Bishop Heather Cook, who recently got dumped for killing a cyclist while drunk and texting.

Total deposed: 17

Here's the list:

The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt
Tennessee

The Rt. Rev. Paul E. Lambert
Bishop Suffragan
Dallas

The Rt. Rev. Edward Stuart Little, II
Northern Indiana

The Rt. Rev. William H. Love
Albany

The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer
Central Florida

The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins
Springfield

The Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith
North Dakota

The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton
Retired Bishop
Dallas

The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus
Retired Bishop
Fond du Lac

The Rt. Rev. D. Bruce MacPherson
Retired Bishop
Western Louisiana

The Rt. Rev. James M. Adams, Jr.
Resigned Bishop
Western Kansas

The Rt. Rev. William C. Frey
Retired Bishop
Colorado

The Rt. Rev. Alden M. Hathaway
Retired Bishop
Pittsburgh

The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe
Retired Bishop
Central Florida

The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr.
Retired Bishop
South Carolina

The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly
Retired Bishop
Texas

*****

The United States Supreme Court on Monday overturned a court judgment in favor of the Obama administration which barred a Catholic university from refusing to pay for contraception for employees on religious grounds.

The Supreme Court had already ruled in favor last year of a Christian-owned company, Hobby Lobby, which had sought to avoid paying for worker healthcare plans which included contraception.

Monday's ruling overturned a judgment against the University of Notre Dame, a prominent Catholic college, which had also refused to fund contraception, a mandatory provision under President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul.

The judgment was the only one of its kind in the United States forcing a religious organization to support certain kinds of contraceptives, such as the morning after pill.

"This is a major blow to the federal government's contraception mandate."

*****

A delegation of 19 Anglican Communion womenis in New York this week to call for strong action to remove blocks to gender equality.

The women, from 17 Communion provinces, are attending events associated with the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which this year is focusing on a review of the declaration from the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 20 years ago. It is also looking at developing a new platform of action for the future.

The Anglican/Episcopalian delegation is taking part in a program of UN and parallel events organized in the CSW59 forum for non-governmental organizations under the call, "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality."

Many of the women will visit their permanent country missions at the UN to advocate for the lifting of barriers to women's active participation in all spheres of public and private life as equal decision-making partners, the core aim of the Beijing Platform for Action.

"Anglican women are present in urban and rural communities all over the world", said Ann Skamp, convener for the International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN) who is accompanying the delegation. "They know what is happening at grassroots and bring valuable local knowledge and insights to the table. They also bring the values of their faith and bright hope for the future.

"Whilst there has been considerable progress in many areas, we are now encouraging our governments to accelerate opportunities for achieving gender equality in the post-2015 development agenda," she said.

*****

The law suit brought by the Bishop of Kitgum, challenging the call by the General Synod of the Church of Uganda that he take early retirement, has been settled out of court, the church reports. In a statement issued last week, the church reported the diocese celebrated the retirement of the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Ojwang at a special service on 15 Feb 2015 at All Saints Cathedral in Kitgum, Northern Uganda.

In August 2014, the 22nd session of the Church of Uganda General Synod passed a resolution asking Bishop Ojwang to step down by 14 Dec 2014, three years before his mandatory retirement in 2017. The Church of England Newspaper was told by sources in Uganda the dispute was tied to the bishop's abrasive management style. In December, Bishop Ojwant threatened to file suit against the primate of Uganda, the Most Rev, Stanley Ntagali, if the church did not rescind the call for his resignation.

The January meeting of the House of Bishops reaffirmed the call that the bishop go, prompting the filing of a lawsuit seeking a stay of action by the church. However, the matter has since been resolved, sources tell CEN, and Archbishop Ntagali will service as vicar general of the diocese pending the election of a new bishop. In his address to the 15 Feb 2015 service, Archbishop Ntagali urged Anglicans to "Stay calm. God is in control of His Church. He will sort out all issues," He called "on everyone in Kitgum Diocese to repent and ask for forgiveness from God because sin blocks God's love."

*****

PRESIDING BISHOP SWEEPSTAKES. At the next General Convention, bishops and deputies will elect a new Presiding Bishop. Some of the wannabees are now out of the running. Foremost among them is Eugene Sutton Bishop of Maryland. As a politically correct debonair black man, he had a fighting chance until he sank beneath the ecclesiastical waves of the Heather Cook scandal. Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina, another black bishop is a good candidate but has health problems, VOL was told, so that leaves dead white males like Ian Douglas of Connecticut and perhaps a candidate or two from Texas dioceses.

VOL's choice is that Katharine Jefferts Schori should run again. She says she won't, but we believe she should. She is a theological and ecclesiastical piñata. We have had nine years of the most made up ecclesiology and theology in the history of The Episcopal Church and we will miss her once she is gone. Who else could come up with the notion that a girl inhabited by a demon should teach the Apostle Paul what to believe or think, or that science rules out the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and who else would deny personal salvation or welcome a former Roman Catholic pedophile (who might reoffend) into the Episcopal Church and then say she never knew he was one? You can't make this crap up. And we desperately need her to spend another $40 million on property lawsuits just so we can see her face when appellate courts and, maybe, the Supreme Court tell her that neutral principles trumps the Dennis Canon. Run, Katharine run, we need you now more than ever.

*****

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In Christ,

David