Updated Monday
This is published later than usual, apologies.
The Tablet has an editorial about Women Bishops in the CofE: Kasper’s forthright warning.
The same journal published this interview with Linda Woodhead: Holistic spirit.
Christopher Howse writes about dogs in church.
The Archbishop of Southeast Asia, John Chew expressed his opinions to Ruth Gledhill in Anglicans look south for unity in diversity.
Two newspaper reports on Sunday refer to a speech by Lord Carey, expressing his opinion.
Sunday Telegraph Church has fallen apart since I was in charge, says Carey
Independent Carey blames successor for ‘strife’ dividing Anglicans
You can read his opinion in full here (the speech was delivered on 9 May).
Updated Monday morning
Two items related to the above:
Lord Carey has issued a statement complaining about the Sunday Telegraph report and
Stephen Bates has written about it in the Guardian with a wide range of persons quoted, in Oh dear. George is at it again.
Another somewhat bizarre interpretation of reality. Does Carey think that things would have been any different had he remained as archbishop? Of course they wouldn’t. Those who he disagrees with would have been every bit as willing to continue to work for change – of course, he could have tried to simply dismiss them, but in doing so he would have split the CofE itself. Similarly, if he had taken the line on civil partnerships he wished to, then he would have ended up breaking the law. Have you noticed how all the bluster about vicars who have had civil… Read more »
“They have been saying that the office of bishop stands not just for unity within a diocese, but above all for unity between dioceses and provinces, as a focus and sign of the koinonia or communio which is at the heart of the Church.” I might turn this editorial comment from “The Tablet” around: what about the “koinonia or communio” which OUGHT exist between ***ALL*** the Imago Dei? And how can such koinonia exist, when some of the Imago Dei—in this case, those made female or gay—are excluded for being the way God made them? We’re not made to trade… Read more »
Carey has not done any better than Williams in his time as the AB of Cante.
If he woould only have taken the bull(ECUSA) by the horns, it may have been better. At least a stand would have been made earlier and the leaven purged and stood for the Truth of the scriptures.Rather, it was all about affirmations, dclarations….All rather short of church discipline that should have been meted out.
As of now, its easier to put blame to the successor(not that Williams is any better)
Is divisons bad? Divisions for the Truth is actually a good thing…..
Carey is on record as saying that when people are retired, they should no longer have a voice in the councils of the Church. I wonder at what point he proposes to take his own advice?
Sadly, it appears that Lord Carey has somewhat fallen into the trap that often beguiles us all when we wish to have our cake and eat it, too. As a paragon of near past leadership, he wishes full historical credit for suppressing diversity and dissent and inquiry among Anglicans – mostly by virtue of his persistent abilities to ignore and strategize (mostly for conservagive Anglican ends); while at the same time he wishes to avoid taking any credit for how his own manipulations and strategies contributed to the appaling lack of church spaces in which people of differing views can… Read more »
How truly sad a figure is Lord Carey.
With his every word he demonstrates the relative shallowness of his evangelical grasp of these thorny theological issues, his willingness to place global politics ahead of all justice and reasonable morality, and, perhaps most un-Anglican of all, the fact that his post-retirement interference with Canterbury is simply and inexcusably un-gentlemanly.
John-Julian, OJN
I think all the posters so far have not read George Carey’s rebuttal of the interpretation the Telegraph put on his words. In fact a plain reading of his words seemed to me at the time to not be saying what they said it was saying.
For instance “When I left office at the end of 2002 I felt the Anglican Communion was in good heart” does not mean “It’s all my successor’s fault”!
The simplest thing for Carey to do, given that he has a propensity for being misinterpreted (not surprising given some of his statements) is to retire from the fray. Take a vow of silence. Go and do some practical work in a hostel for the homeless, or a soup kitchen. Emulate Lord Profumo, and all will think well of him, rather than waiting for the next banana skin to appear under his feet – placed there by George on a previous occasion.
“The simplest thing for Carey to do, given that he has a propensity for being misinterpreted (not surprising given some of his statements) is to retire from the fray. Take a vow of silence. Go and do some practical work in a hostel for the homeless, or a soup kitchen.”
Alan, it gives me great pleasure to say: I could not agree w/ you more. 😉
[I might add: “or work w/ homeless LGBT youth, pitched out in the street by their families, for being the way God made them”]
I have a sense being Archbishop kinda went to George’s head–could be wrong. Be so lovley if he could bear to drop the lord, and go back to plain ole George, a minister of the gospel. But also enjoy retirement with Eileen. He msut be ready for some rest, surely ?
I think being is also worthwhile and a sign of something valuable for us all.
Yet, would I have the courage to let go, myself ?
No sure…
Oh, but we have read it, Dave. Its just that we don’t believe it, knowing well Carey,his style, way of working and agenda.
Where does naivete end and goodness begin? Artlessness and guilelessness are synonyms for them both (though note Jesus on serpents and doves). Both Archbishops Carey and Williams are more concerned for what they must say than for how they will be heard/misheard. This shows a commendable lack of calculating spirit, tactical spirit, political spirit. This kind of open goodness made them suitable for the job in the first place. Thank goodness neither is a politician, and neither minds in the least whether or not they ‘put their foot in it’. That is because their minds are not on appearances nor… Read more »