Updated 13 April
First, on the Davis MacIyalla story.
Since the last report, the recent comments made on TA include several by the principals in the case. This week the Church Times carried another article, Nigerian attitude is unchanged by Pat Ashworth. And then Changing Attitude issued another statement on Thursday, Colin Coward addresses the new attack made against Davis MacIyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria.
Update A further press release from CA dated 13 April can be found at Open letter to Canon Akintunde Popoola, Director of Communications, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
Second, on the matter of Muslim-Christian relations in Nigeria.
This letter to the editor appeared last week in the Church Times: Important cultural difference in Nigeria.
Third, the World Organisation Against Torture has issued a press release New Bill Puts Human Rights Defenders of Sexual Rights at Risk (link via allAfrica.com) which calls on the Nigerian government to withdraw the proposed legislation.
From the Church Times’ letter to the editor: “So, when Archbishop Akinola says to the Muslims that, if they continue to attack Christians, then some young Christians may also get violent, he is not heard by many of his fellow Nigerians as giving a warning, but as making a prediction. If, as happened, Christians did retaliate, Archbishop Akinola would be seen not as foreseeing the event, but as influencing it. This would be further proof to them that Peter Akinola was a powerful man: powerful enough not only to stand up to the Americans and the English, but also now… Read more »
It is a truism that America & England are two nations separated by a common language (I suspect that Churchill was not the first to say it) — if Fr Osborne’s letter to The Church Times is correct (& I have no reason to doubt that it is), then the separation between the cousins is nothing compared to that between them & the Nigerians!
Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices; direct those who speak where many listen, those who write what many read and those who influence what many see that they may do their part in making the heart of your people wise, the mind sound, and the will righteous; to the honour of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Someone should please tell CA and Pat that they are dwelling on 2003 activities of Davis while he virtually ran the diocese. The Disclaimer was specific about the period it was concerned about. – past 2 years –… Read more »
Dear Tunde, I have just re-read your Disclaimers very carefully. You issued two Press Releases, both titled Disclaimers. The first Press Release didn’t mention Davis by name, but we deduce it is Davis that is the object of the release because the second release which directly follows does mention Davis. The second release IS about 2003. The release specifically gives 2003 as the date. The first of the two press releases lists a series of lies about Davis, or if you want me to put it another way, you published lies about Davis. Davis is a knight of the Church.… Read more »
Later today, Changing Attitude will be publishing a further statement on our web site in response to Tunde’s final post on the previous thread and following an extended interview this morning with Davis MacIyalla. One comment for now. Tunde wrote that “The disclaimer was careful enough to explain the reason behind his (bishop Ugede’s) trust in you (Davis)”. I have re-read both disclaimer again very, very carefully. I find nothing except criticisms of Davis, and absolutely nothing that explains Ugede’s trust in Davis. Am I going crazy? No – but reading Tunde’s posts, I feel like it. His reality is… Read more »
Dear Colin, Peace! I really should not be occupying myself with this during this busy Holy Week but I want to avoid being misrepresented again. Your post refers to http://www.anglican-nig.org/fraudulent_persons.htm and alleged that it was targeted towards Davis. That is not entirely true. He was included but I still have dozens of mails from Europe and US to back up the attempts by fraudulent personalities to defraud using Church of Nigeria sentiments. Since the disclaimer, and with its link on our home page, my rate of receiving such mails have decreased from the monthly dozens to a trickle. (none so… Read more »
tunde,
Let’s bring your attention back to specific questions.
To quote Father Colin,
“I want to know how the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is responding to every section of Lambeth 1.10 and the Windsor Report.”
I am wondering a little about the language question. There are languages full of what the French call “subjonctif”, that is modes to express doubt, possibility, too much of a certainty, and so on – so conspicuously (for me, a Swede) absent from the Blair-Campbell report on the Iraqui WMD, the other year… Swedish and some other languages have very little of this – perhaps only residues in half forgotten dialects. Everything is in the Indicative. Some, like Hebrew, lack this mode altogether, to the point of sounding rude and brutal to more sensitive spirits ;=) I wonder if this… Read more »
Dear Tunde, Perhaps it is appropriate that we are in Holy Week, the most important week of the Christian year when we remember the human frailty of a group of women and men who betrayed and deserted the Lord of Life. The story reminds me that it is not because I am gay that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. He was crucified because people ran away and did not stand by him or tell the truth about him. If they hadn’t run away and lied, we would not be Christians nor be remembering the crucifixion or celebrating the resurrection… Read more »
Dear Colin, Thanks for forcing us to visit your organisation’s site and for confirming that Davis’ lie that he was back in Nigeria is permissible (because he is gay? ) Very busy now and will respond fully after Easter. I am however confused about your confusion. You initiated the reference to the two different disclaimers. Why are you now muddling things up? To show me as inconsistent? Sorry. Maybe I need to quote you for clarity. You wrote; “The first Press Release didn’t mention Davis by name, but we deduce it is Davis that is the object of the release..  Read more »
I reiterate: 1. How is the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) responding to every section of Lambeth 1.10 and the Windsor Report? 2. How does the Church in Nigeria justify supporting a bill that will result in the opression of gay people? I further reiterate, I do not object to your opposition to homosexuality nor your sincere belief that gay people should change their sexuality and that they can change through Christ, though I must confess, after 10 years of praying not to be gay, I was led, I believe by God, to accept that I am as He made… Read more »