Updated
Episcopal Life Online has published a report, Uganda’s proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill causes concern and caution.
The Chicago Consultation published a press release, Chicago Consultation Asks Anglican Leaders to Oppose Ugandan Anti-Gay Legislation.
The New Statesman published an article, Uganda is sanctioning gay genocide by Sigrid Rausing
And it got a mention on the Guardian website, Activists denounce Uganda’s homosexuality bill.
Warren Throckmorton has published further articles:
Ugandan university hosts dialogue; Exodus letter plays a role
College of Prayer, the Ugandan Parliament and the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
The full text of Professor Sylvia Tamale’s address can be found here.
Update
There’s a further ELO news release, Executive Council members call for special meeting on Uganda legislation.
5 CommentsUpdated
An announcement from the Cutting Edge Consortium:
Cutting Edge Consortium marks its launch by inviting you to continue the debates of the Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia & Human Rights Conferences 2007 & 2009
“EQUALITY BILL: OPT IN vs OPT OUT”
An open meeting to discuss religious exemptions to the legislation on sexuality and gender identity in the Equality Bill
Hosted by Clare Short MP, speakers will include:
- Sarah Bourke (Tooks Chambers)
- Andrew Copson (British Humanist Association)
- Maleiha Malik (Muslim Women’s Network)
- Michael Rubenstein (Equal Opportunities Review)
Date/Time: 1900-2100, Tuesday 24th November
Venue: Committee Room 5, House of Commons
The Cutting Edge Consortium includes the Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement, Interfaith Alliance UK, British Humanist Association, Muslim Education Centre Oxford, Liberal Judaism, Trades Union Congress, and A:Gender, Centre for the Study of Christianity & Sexuality, Ekklesia, Inclusive Church, LGBT Consortium of Voluntary & Community Organisations.
Contact email: cuttingedgeconsortium1@googlemail.com
Ekklesia has a report of the meeting, see Religious and secular groups unite to launch anti-discrimination coalition.
7 CommentsJamie Doward reports in today’s Observer:
The government is being forced by the European commission to rip up controversial exemptions that allow church bodies to refuse to employ homosexual staff.
It has emerged that the commission wrote to the government last week raising concerns that the UK had incorrectly implemented an EU directive prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of a person’s sexual orientation.
The ruling follows a complaint from the National Secular Society, which argued that the opt-outs went further than was permitted under the directive and had created “illegal discrimination against homosexuals”.
The commission agreed. A “reasoned opinion” by its lawyers informs the government that its “exceptions to the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for religious employers are broader than that permitted by the directive”.
The highly unusual move means that the government now has no choice but to redraft anti-discrimination laws, which is likely to prompt a furore among church groups.
Read Brussels says churches must lift ban on employing homosexuals.
According to an EU press release, found via eumonitor.net:
Employment equality rules: reasoned opinion to the UK; case closed for Slovakia
The European Commission has today sent a reasoned opinion to the United Kingdom for incorrectly implementing EU rules prohibiting discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in employment and occupation (Directive 2000/78/EC, see also MEMO/08/69 ). It has also decided to close infringement proceedings concerning the same Directive against Slovakia as their national legislation has been brought into line with EU requirements.
“Tackling all forms of discrimination – especially at work – has been a priority for this Commission and for me personally. Our legal action has led to better protection against discrimination in workplaces across the EU,” said Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír Špidla. “We call on the UK Government to make the necessary changes to its anti-discrimination legislation as soon as possible so as to fully comply with the EU rules. In this context, we welcome the proposed Equality Bill and hope that it will come into force quickly,” he added.
In the reasoned opinion sent to the United Kingdom, the Commission pointed out that:
- there is no clear ban on ‘instruction to discriminate’ in national law and no clear appeals procedure in the case of disabled people;
- exceptions to the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for religious employers are broader than that permitted by the directive.
There’s a response to this news item at Cranmer EU forces Government to put gay equality over Christian conscience.
48 CommentsUpdated Sunday lunchtime
Media reports following the meeting:
BBC Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope to ‘seek closer ties’ and
Robert Pigott Anglicans and Catholics attempt to bridge divide
New York Times Rachel Donadio Anglican Leader and Pope Hold ‘Cordial’ Talks
Telegraph Jonathan Wynne-Jones Archbishop of Canterbury tells Pope that Catholic row left him feeling ‘awkward’
Mail on Sunday Jonathan Petre Rowan Williams confronts the Pope over ‘poaching’ of clergy
A very useful commentary by Austen Ivereigh in America +Rowan and Pope Benedict ‘mend fences’
Updates
Observer John Hooper Williams faces pope over Vatican call for converts and also
Leader comment: A subtle champion of the faith
Ruth Gledhill has Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome: In giving we receive
The BBC radio programme Sunday has a segment starting about 32 minutes in. It includes a brief audio interview with Rowan Williams.
Bishop David Hamid has a useful blog entry, see Anglican-Roman Catholic Relations.
22 CommentsToday The Times has a leader, Ecumenism rebuffed.
It includes this:
…In the interests of his own authority and the integrity of the Anglican tradition, he should give the pontiff two clear messages.
First, the Anglican Communion is not an arrangement of convenience among disparate parties. In creating the new structure, known as an apostolic constitution, the Vatican acted precipitately. Second, there is an impeccable case for the Church to welcome women priests and homosexual clergy. On these issues that have sharply divided Anglicans, Dr Williams is clearly liberal by temperament. Stating that position openly, regardless of its effect on Anglican-Catholic relations, is overdue…
The Independent also has a leader, Heavy hand of Rome. It says:
…Last month saw one of the most divisive acts by the Catholic Church in decades. The Pope unveiled an “apostolic constitution” which would allow practising Anglicans to join the Catholic Church. Under the new arrangement, Rome would even admit married Church of England clergy and allow entire congregations to continue using their traditional liturgy and prayer book. The Archbishop has been quietly criticising the Catholic move in recent days. But behind closed doors he ought to be more direct…
In the same paper:
It is the best and worst of times for Anglo-Catholic relations by Paul Woolley
A warm welcome from the Pope sows Anglican unease by Simon Caldwell
The Church Times website has an update to the printed version, Archbishop takes the argument to Rome by Paul Handley.
Andrew Brown wrote Graphic confusion in Rome at Cif belief yesterday. He links to this helpful flow chart from The Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley.
A detailed critical analysis of Anglicanorum coetibus comes from Australia, where Charles Sherlock has written Pope skips language of love in Anglicans manifesto.
46 CommentsJudith Maltby writes in the Guardian about the Creation Museum.
Madeleine Bunting writes at Cif belief about The rabbi’s moral muddle.
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times about Checks and balances in the City.
Jonathan Sacks writes in The Times that The lesson of Noah’s Ark is that wolves can lie down with lambs.
Rowan Williams spoke to a TUC conference this week, on the topic Economics is ‘housekeeping’ for humanity. Short version here.
At Ekklesia Walter Altmann writes that Liberation theology is still alive and well.
And the Church Times has a take on the film Twilight. Read Stories with bite.
3 CommentsToday’s Church Times carries a report, written by me, about the CofE and the Equality Bill.
See Committee rejects C of E proposal on Equality Bill.
THE parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) disagreed strongly with the Archbishops’ Council over a proposal to modify the Equality Bill, it emerged this week. The Bill awaits the Report stage before its Third Reading in the House of Commons…
Links to the various documents mentioned can all be found at this earlier TA article JCHR report on Equality Bill.
Those coming late to the Equality Bill can catch up by reading the House of Commons Library Research Paper, Equality Bill Committee Stage Report, just published, and available here as a PDF file. This summarises all the activity of recent months, and explains what amendments have, and have not, been made to the bill as originally published.
3 CommentsUpdated Friday morning
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Congo and the Bishop of Winchester today voiced their concerns over the continuing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Update
The Bishop of Winchester spoke in the House of Lords on this subject. You can read what he said here.
13 CommentsUpdated Friday morning
The Archbishop of Canterbury gave an address today, in Rome. He was the guest of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The address was part of a symposium being held at the Gregorian University, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Cardinal Willebrands, the first president of the Council.
You can read the full text of the address here.
Reporting of this event by the media:
Telegraph Archbishop of Canterbury claims differences between Anglicans and Roman Catholics are not that great by Martin Beckford and Nick Squires
Guardian Rowan Williams urges Rome to rethink position on female bishops by Riazat Butt and John Hooper
The Times Archbishop of Canterbury tells Pope: no turning back on women priests by Ruth Gledhill and Richard Owen
Associated Press Struggling Anglican leader in Rome for papal talks by Nicole Wingfield
Reuters Anglican head challenges Vatican over women clergy
Agence France Presse Anglican leader urges ‘convergence’ with Catholics
Reporting on the blogs:
Alan Wilson What kind of Unity? and of Church?
Ruth Gledhill Rowan in Rome: The Fightback Begins
57 CommentsPolitical Research Associates has published a major report entitled Globalizing the Culture Wars: U.S. Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia.
The report is written by The Revd Kapya Kaoma, an Anglican priest from Zambia.
From the press release:
11 CommentsGroundbreaking PRA Investigation Exposes Influence of U.S. Religious Conservatives in Promoting Homophobia in Africa
U.S. Christian Right also mobilizes African clerics in U.S. “culture war” over ordination of LGBT clergy
Sexual minorities in Africa have become collateral damage to our domestic conflicts and culture wars as U.S. conservative evangelicals and those opposing gay pastors and bishops within mainline Protestant denominations woo Africans in their American fight, a groundbreaking investigation by Political Research Associates (PRA) discovered.
Globalizing the Culture Wars: U.S. Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia, a new report by PRA Project Director Reverend Kapya Kaoma, exposes the U.S. Right’s promotion of an agenda in Africa that aims to criminalize homosexuality and otherwise infringe upon the human rights of LGBT people while also mobilizing African clerics in U.S. culture war battles. U.S. social conservatives who are in the minority in mainline churches depend on African religious leaders to legitimize their positions as their growing numbers makes African Christians more influential globally. These partnerships have succeeded in slowing the mainline Protestant churches’ recognition of the full equality of LGBT people. It’s working despite the real movement toward full equality within deonominations because of the sensitivity of liberals to the question of colonialism. Are we being insensitive to the realities of Africa? But, Kaoma argues, although U.S. conservatives have organized African religious leaders as a visible force opposing LGBT equality, it is not true that all of Africa takes this stand…
David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society has written Women Bishops – what sort of provision?
Fulcrum has published a statement ‘Making way for Women Bishops’.
8 CommentsFrom the USA, Bishop Christopher Epting comments on the Vatican’s Apostolic Constitution.
From Nigeria, the Sun has Pope Benedict’s revolutionary offer to Anglicans.
From England, Andrew Brown has written Backlash at Cif belief.
And from Rome via the USA, Cardinal Kasper on ‘Anglicanorum Coetibus’.
8 CommentsEkklesia is spearheading a petition, Christian leaders must condemn Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Read more about this:
Williams under pressure as Christians condemn Ugandan anti-gay bill
The Archbishop and the anti-gay bill
1 CommentThe series of papers from WATCH was first reported here.
More papers are now available as PDF files from here:
The full text of the resolution passed by the Canadian Council of General Synod on Uganda last weekend is as follows:
12 CommentsUganda
This Council of General Synod expresses its dismay and concern over the draft proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill currently before the Parliament of Uganda.
The proposed Bill would severely impede the human rights of Ugandan citizens both at home and abroad by infringing freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, freedom of organization, and legitimate advocacy of civil rights. It would impose excessive and cruel penalties on persons who experience same-sex attraction as well as those who counsel, support, and advise them, including family members and clergy.
We affirm that our baptismal covenant requires us to “respect the dignity of every human being” and to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbour as ourselves.” We further note that 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1:10 called upon the Church to reject the irrational fear of homosexual persons and to create opportunities to listen to the voice and experience of homosexual Christians. We recall that the Primates Meeting in Dromantine, Ireland 2005 condemned all persecution and violence towards homosexual persons. Clearly, the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill fails to meet these standards.
We therefore call upon the Church of the Province of Uganda to oppose this Private Member’s Bill: and we call upon our own Government of Canada, through the Minister of External Affairs, to convey to the Government of Uganda a deep sense of alarm about this fundamental violation of human rights and, through diplomatic channels, to press for its withdrawal; and we ask the Primate to send this message to the appropriate bodies.
Moved by: Bishop Michael Ingham
Seconded by: Mr. Robert Falby QC
Updated
Very little progress appears to have been made in obtaining any public statement by Anglican leaders anywhere against the proposed legislation. But see update below.
Meanwhile the latest news report is Museveni warns against homosexuality.
The latest Church Times report is Ugandans clarify view on gay Bill by Pat Ashworth.
Warren Throckmorton now reports Exodus opposes Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009: Open letter to the President of Uganda.
Earlier, he had written How the Anti-Homosexuality Bill could impair AIDS progress in Uganda.
Dr Throckmorton and Andrew Marin have organised a Uganda World Prayer Day.
Update
The Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod has passed the following resolution (scroll to the very bottom of the page):
13 Comments*Resolution
COGS passed a resolution that expressed its dismay and concern over the draft proposed anti-homosexuality bill currently before the parliament of Uganda. COGS resolved to call upon the church of the province of Uganda to oppose this private member’s bill, and called upon the Government of Canada, through the Minister of External Affairs, to convey to the government of Uganda a deep sense of alarm about this fundamental violation of human rights and through diplomatic channels, to press for its withdrawal; and asked the Primate to send this message to the appropriate bodies.
Reform has issued a press release:
17 CommentsThe decision of the General Synod’s Revision Committee to back away from proposals to give opponents of women bishops a way of staying in the Church of England has “overturned the will of Synod, created the spectre of confrontation, and risks extending the controversy for another five years,” according to the chairman of Reform, the Rev’d Rod Thomas.
Responding to the announcement made on Saturday 14th November that the Revision Committee had failed to approve the transfer of jurisdiction from female to male bishops where parishes could not accept their oversight, Rod Thomas said:
“At last February’s General Synod there was a clear desire to provide legislative safeguards for those who could not, in conscience, accept the oversight of women bishops. This has now been overturned by the Revision Committee. Whereas there was a prospect of agreement, the Revision Committee has now set the General Synod on a course of confrontation. It has served the Church badly.
“There has been much speculation about Anglo-Catholics leaving the Church of England for Rome. What has been overlooked is the number of large evangelical churches which the Church of England now risks losing – not to Rome, but to independence or alternative Anglican affiliations.
“Within the General Synod there will be many who will be deeply unhappy at the bullying tactics being used to dismiss opponents of the proposed new legislation. Some evangelicals who do support the introduction of women bishops will nevertheless vote against proposals which have the effect of excluding other evangelicals. This means that by the time the proposals have finished their tortuous progress through the General Synod, they will be likely to fail, since they will be unable to garner the two thirds majority support needed.
“It may be that in the providence of God, the result of the Revision Committee’s decision may be the reverse of what they intend: that this unbiblical move to put women in positions of headship in the church will fail. Reform will now renew its commitment to work towards this outcome.”
The Modern Churchpeople’s Union has written about Women Bishops and the Revision Committee:
MCU has published a paper that welcomes the Revision Committee’s change of policy. However, it questions the emphasis on seeking to satisfy the opponents of women bishops while showing no comparable concern for the majority appalled by the continuing gender discrimination.
The paper argues
- that the proposed proliferation of different classes of bishops (women, men consecrated or not consecrated by women, men who do or do not ordain women, etc) should be resisted;
- that church leaders should resist the influence of magical views of the sacraments, treating priests and bishops as if the value of their ministry depended on whether their appointment followed precise rules;
- that the ‘theology of taint’ – the idea that a bishop who has once ordained a woman priest is no longer an acceptable bishop – is not acceptable and no allowance should be made for it;
- that resistance to change, while characteristic of many reactionary religious campaigns, is unrealistic since churches do, and need to, make changes;
- that the increasing appeal to the individual conscience as though it were a basic unchanging fact, rather than an expression of what the individual currently believes to be true, should be resisted;
- and that the current reactionary mood among church leaders is in danger of being made permanent by the proposed Anglican Covenant.
Read the whole paper, either on the web, or in a PDF file.
14 CommentsUpdated
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has published its report Legislative Scrutiny: Equality Bill.
The web version of this report starts here. A PDF version is also available from here.
The portions of the report relating to Religion are interesting.
Go here for the section headed EMPLOYMENT BY ORGANISATIONS BASED UPON RELIGION OR BELIEF. This starts at paragraph 164, and should be read in full. The evidence given to another committee by the CofE and Roman Catholic Church representatives is considered. Evidence given to this committee by the Church of England can be found starting at page Ev 114 of the PDF. That is page 250 of 344! A third memorandum from the Board of Education and the National Society is at page Ev 190 (322 of the PDF).
Update
There are direct links to each of the Church of England memoranda:
The JCHR conclusions include these paragraphs:
2 Comments174. We welcome the clarification in Schedule 9(2) and 9(3) of the circumstances in which occupational requirements linked to a religious belief or ethos can be imposed by faith-based organisations and organised religious groups. We accept that some limitations on non-discrimination on grounds of religion or belief may be justified and appropriate in relation to religious organisations and that the exemption in Schedule 9(2) fulfils that role. We also consider that in general the provisions of Schedule 9(2) and 9(3) strike the correct balance between the right to equality and non-discrimination and the rights to freedom of religion or belief and association, especially if interpreted in line with the approach set out in Amicus v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which emphasised the need for such exceptions to the general prohibition on direct discrimination to be “construed strictly” on the basis that they are “a derogation from the principle of equal treatment”.
175. We consider that substantial grounds exist for doubting whether the “religious ethos” exception provided for in Schedule 9(3) permits organisations with a religious ethos to impose wide-ranging requirements on employees to adhere to religious doctrine in their lifestyles and personal relationships, by for example requiring employees to manifest their religious beliefs by refraining from homosexual acts. We agree with the Government that it is “very difficult to see how in practice beliefs in lifestyles or personal relationships could constitute a religious belief which is a requirement for a job, other than ministers of religion” (which is covered by a different exception). This should put beyond doubt the position that the exemption in Schedule 9(3) cannot be used to discriminate on the basis of sexual conduct linked to sexual orientation. We support this view and recommend that this be made clear in the Bill.
176. We are concerned about the status of employees of organisations delivering public services who find themselves as employees of organisations with a religious ethos who have been contracted to provide the public service. They have a right not to be subjected to religious discrimination on the basis of the ethos of the contracting organisation if they are otherwise performing their job satisfactorily. We are concerned that the widespread use of the “religious ethos” exception set out in Schedule 9(3) by organisations based on a particular religion or belief who are contracted to deliver services on behalf of public authorities could result in public functions being discharged by organisations in receipt of public funds who are nevertheless perceived to discriminate on the basis of religion or belief.
Roderick Strange writes in The Times ‘In Heaven we shall see each other as we really are’.
Earlier in the week, Libby Purves wrote The key to rubbing along in perfect harmony.
Last week in the Church Times Richard Harries wrote Gangmasters need tighter controls.
Michael Reiss wrote The case of Adam’s navel.
And The Revd Professor Alison Milbank was interviewed by Terence Handley MacMath. (Best line: Fresh Expressions is a brand of cat litter in America.)
Over at Cif belief Mark Dowd wrote All aboard the ARC.
And the speech by Rowan Williams on New Perspectives on Faith and Development, was reproduced at Cif belief under the title Relating intelligently to religion. Here’s the short version:
62 CommentsPresenting a broader agenda for development, which seeks to define human flourishing as more than just material well-being, Dr Williams suggests that all engaged in the process would benefit by rediscovering their own humanity in the humanity of the other. This would lead, he suggests, to a ‘proper distribution of dignity’. Dr Williams acknowledges the challenges to collaboration in the perceptions secular development agencies and faith communities have of each other, but emphasises the overwhelming benefits, indeed the imperative, of both to commit to mutual learning in order to collaborate for the well-being of humanity and the planet.
