Updated Friday lunchtime
This press release from Lambeth Palace is headlined Archbishop unveils plans for London event to challenge global governments to reach targets on tackling poverty.
The same release from the Anglican Communion Office is headlined The Archbishop of Canterbury – plans to challenge global governments to tackle poverty.
And when released by Episcopal News Service it becomes Bishops’ London walk to underscore commitment to MDGs.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today announced plans to mount an unprecedented mass walk of bishops and other faith leaders through central London during the forthcoming Lambeth Conference to demonstrate the Anglican Communion’s determination to help end extreme poverty across the globe…
Why is this being announced today?
The announcement of this walk is being released to coincide with a meeting of faith leaders and heads of faith-based development agencies, who met at Lambeth Palace today (29th May). The group discussed how faith groups can ensure that governments honour their spending commitments towards the UN targets and make policy decisions in their support.
Not explained is why the LamPal website shows today’s date on this release as Donnerstag 29 Mai 2008. Update This has now been corrected.
The Living Church has reported the news with a snappier headline: Archbishop Plans London March with Poverty Focus.
Kent News appears to be the only secular UK news outlet so far to report on this: Bishops to march on London in name of poverty.
Am I the only one who’s thinking this looks like a gimmick to make the bishops seem oh-so-radical while they simultaneously try to stifle justice in the Church by locking out the too disturbing Bishop of New Hampshire? If they really want to make a radical statement, perhaps they would be better to don pink triangles and join a gay pride march.
This is reminiscent of the marches against slavery last year. Although Anglican bishops genuinely do want to be on the right side of radical social justice initiatives, Church ‘marches for justice’ can appear a little ironic. On gay rights issues, they have found themselves stuck on the losing side of the argument in the public’s mind. And more time has been devoted to opposing the domestic arrangements of one bishop (even when the exact number of Anglican bishops is not known) than to MDGs.
“These shoes were made ‘fer walk’in, and walk’in’s what they’ll do; an’ someday these shoes are gonna walk all over you….” (followed by descending chromatic bass guitar line)
Uh, “boots” that is…..or should it be gaiters?
choriste d’enfer: I think, knowing Anglican bishops, it’s more likely “these gaiters were made for mincing…”
Pere Marc: Violet or Magenta pumps?
choriste: perhaps they’d settle for cerise?
Elle somme tout blanc.