Gene Robinson: No Future for ACNA, PCA, RCC . . .

Gene Robinson – the man will say anything. Remember him saying that he won’t be “the Gay Bishop”? Yeah, right. Well now, he says this about The Anglican Church in North America:

A church that does not ordain women or openly gay people - I don't see a future for that.

Now maybe he really believes that. If so, he would do well to look at the numbers of those churches who don’t ordain women or open gays, from the Presbyterian Church in America to the Roman Catholic Church and compare them to the slow-motion implosion of The Episcopal Church, the mainline Presbyterian Church, and other Libchurches.

Now, who does not have a future?

That’s not to mention he has his facts wrong. Some ACNA jurisdictions do ordain women. (But none may have women bishops.)

The Anglican Church in North America is not perfect; it is a work in progress. But if it does not work (And I think it will.), it will certainly not be because we do not ordain gays or women.

Today’s Slightly Condensed News

Today’s Slightly Condensed News:

Bernie Madoff sentenced to 150 years of listening to Michael Jackson CDs and Billy Mays infomercials.

Caption Competition! (Winner declared!)

This great photo begs for a caption competition.

My nomination:
Hey Bish-Bob, nice tat!

THE WINNER: And I declare Texanglican the winner for:

avert your eyes. Don't look at the eyebrows. Don't look at the eyebrows. Don't look at ...

Chazaq gets runner-up for his two excellent contributions:

Now that I'm an Archbishop, you gotta kiss my ring. Didn't they tell you that?

I told Leonard Riches to bring his pointy hat, but did he listen? No.


Thanks to all for playing!

ACNA Assembly Random Notes

I’m still a bit sleepy and foggy after a late night last night. It was an excellent service. Even hardened journalists were impressed.

If you see us Reformed Episcopalians puffing out our chests a bit today, it is because our Presiding Bishop, Leonard Riches, was the Senior Bishop Presiding in the service and administered the oaths to ++Robert Duncan.

Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America is a brave and honest man. He made clear yesterday morning that he desired communion between his church and The Anglican Church in North America. But then, in going through barriers to communion, he proceeded to gore the oxen of just about every party among us -- Calvinism (“a condemned heresy”), women’s ordination, bare sanctuaries and empty crosses (“iconoclasm”), reluctance to affirm all 7 Ecumenical Councils, the filioque, Marian excesses, and more. I don’t know if there was a single foot in the tent he did not stomp on. Like I said, brave man. But I and most greatly respect his honesty.

The Dallas area is having the hottest weather of the year so far, above 100 degrees. Even to this South Texan, it has felt like a furnace. Fortunately, a shower cooled Plano – to the 90’s – before the service yesterday evening.

I went to a favorite spot in Plano for dinner before the service and had the good fortune to be invited to join Bishop John David Schofield and friends at their table. He is very relaxing and pleasant company, and I greatly enjoyed my dinner with them.

This assembly has been about much more than church business. I know I’ve been challenged to pick up the pace of my ministry. And I am sure I am not alone.

ACNA: Back to Christ Church Plano Tonight

Tonight is the big service at Christ Church Plano where Robert Duncan will be installed as the first Archbishop of The Anglican Church in North America.

It will be yet another memorable time for me at Christ Church. Time and time again it has played a key role in my Anglican pilgrimage. My first Anglican service in my adult life was there back in the Fall of 2003. (Yes, during *that* time.) In that service I discovered I really liked Anglican worship even if it seemed so “Catholic.” (Yes, my view of what is very catholic has changed just a bit since then.) And it turned out to be worship that most drew me to Anglicanism.

There, I experienced my first Anglican Holy Week service on Palm Sunday 2004, crying like “a weeping Catholic” when I received my little palm cross after receiving communion. That tangible token of Christ’s love meant so much to me and was a clue to how much sacramental worship would mean to me.

I was there the Sunday immediately after Christ Church left the Episcopal Church when David+ Roseberry began his sermon by asking “How was your week?” I’ve gotten to experience a bit of their pilgrimage while they were playing such a role in mine.

And now, after years of praying and yearning to be a part of a united orthodox worldwide Anglican communion, my prayers are answered. And I get to celebrate that and our first archbishop tonight with my fellow Anglicans . . . at Christ Church Plano again.

God’s providence overwhelms me.

ACNA, Session 2: The Canons

Well, I’m going to try my hand at liveblogging a session again. I’m no canon lawyer so that might be dangerous. I think I will focus more on color and less on detail than I did yesterday.

It will be interesting to see how much debate there will be on the canons, particularly when we get to the issue of women’s ordination.

As I wait, I do want to say I agree with Still On Patrol that ACNA would be wise not to get in a great hurry to become an Anglican Communion province blessed by Canterbury. *Anglican understatement alert* I think there are better things to do. And not everyone in ACNA is thrilled with the current occupant of the See of Canterbury.

We’ve been asked to take our seats. Looks like we’ll start close to on time.

We start with a reading of Proverbs 2. +Duncan is not here at the start. Will take the chair later.

Motion to ratify the whole canons by acclamation. Wow. I don’t think that is the way to proceed. But quite a number second amidst some hubbub. The chair wisely defers on that. (Sorry, I don’t have the chair’s i.d. yet.)

Governance Committee member now speaking.

Motion to pass by acclamation to be tabled for 30 minutes. Discussed and coming to a vote. Motion to tabled passed by voice vote. Therefore the motion to pass by acclamation will be revisited in 30 minutes.

And the chair is Mike Murphy.

Title 1 under consideration now:
Canon 10, sec. 2, # 8 – Dio of Pitt member moves to send that back as it’s not a first order duty. (Lay duties – feasts and fasts) Further discussion

Point of order asking to consider section by section. (There is already a tug of war between those who want to deliberate and those who want to get the canons passed fast.)

Discussion on sending the feasts and fast clause back is taking some time.

Bishop Harvey of Canada says we need to move things along, or we won't have the time to get the canons passed.

Now vote to send back the clause. A lot of ayes, but the noes clearly prevail.

Title 1 now passed. On to Title 2 . . .

Canon 2 of Title 2 discussed. (on Standard Book of Common Prayer)
+Grote of REC: God in his providence could move us to have a standard Book of Common Prayer

Canon 4, 1, 5: motion to send back. (“Members in good standing of other branches of Christ’s Church, who have been baptized in
the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, are welcomed to the Holy
Communion.“) I think the mover wants parishes free to be stricter on standards of reception. (I agree btw.)

Motion fails, but with some aye votes.

Canon 8: Motion to send sections 2 and 3 back. Not even seconded. (Good!)

Title 2 passes.

+Duncan takes chair as it’s time to vote on the earlier motion to pass all canons by acclamation.

++Duncan suggests considering section by section, instead of all at one time by acclamation.

Mike Murphy is the one who made the acclamation motion. (He wasn’t the chair. I got that wrong. I still don’t know who the earlier chair was. Sorry.) And now Mr. Murphy graciously withdraws his motion. (Kudos to him.) So we will consider section by section. As ++Duncan has suggested, it is very possible we will pass the canons today and avoid a business meeting tomorrow.

Moving missions minute on human trafficking.

BTW, with +Grote speaking earlier, it is clear the Canons have an REC imprint.

Greeting from Church of Uganda.

Title 3 under consideration.
John Hendershott of REC reluctantly brings up WO. (You knew that issue was coming.) He asks about transfer of women priests to jurisdictions that don’t accept. ++Duncan answers that a bishop can refuse transfer of orders.

A technical question about College of Bishops.

And with that the Title 3 passes without opposition. The discussion was brief.

BabyBlue is also live-blogging this. She is getting down some details that I am missing.

A greeting from Egypt begins “I AM going back to Egypt!” :)

Title 4 under consideration.

After a question about standards of evidence, Title 4 goes to a vote and passes with no opposition.

+Iker introduces RC bishop of Ft. Worth Kevin Vann.

+Vann assures us of the prayers of the RC Diocese of FW, affirms St. Paul as a guide.

Chris Sugden brings greetings from friends in the CofE.

Only one title to go. So it looks like we will conclude business with time to spare. And *that* issue of WO hasn’t come up much. I thought it would.

Sorry if this has been boring. But sometimes boring is good. :)

Brian+ Foos speaking on St. Andrew’s Academy. He is good people!

Title V under consideration now.

There are no questions, so it goes to a vote. It passes without opposition.

+Duncan: “My brothers and sisters, the work of the Assembly is done.” Standing ovation.

During announcements, +Guernsey (spelling) announces the House of Bishops of Uganda has recognized ACNA and transfers its parishes to ACNA. Standing ovations.

At ++Duncan's prompting, a standing o for the Governance Task Force.

Sugden asks for prayers for the launching of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans in the UK. I think he said the first big meeting is July 6th.

++Duncan blesses then adjourns us.

ACNA Morning Random Notes, Day 2

The highlight of the morning was Rick Warren’s address in the big tent. Now I have to admit I was not exactly thrilled when I heard the news a few weeks ago that Warren would be speaking. And I was among those here who asked, “Could we not find a good Anglican speaker?” But his message was excellent, timely, and moving. I won’t summarize it as I am sure it will be posted soon. But it is well worth reading and heeding.

But after his message, a lady asked us to get together in groups of four and share what God had told us.

Oh dear.

I slipped out along with a number of others.

Earlier, during Morning Prayer, I finally rebelled against TEC 1979 Rite II by firmly saying Jesus descended into Hell (not just “to the dead”) during the Apostles Creed. I think I need to start praying for the extinction of Rite II in ACNA.

During Morning Prayer, David+ Short gave a good message from Acts 5. When he phrased the apostles situation before the Sanhedrin in ways that obviously paralleled the travails of many who have left The Episcopal Church for ACNA, there was not a little laughter.

Beforehand, one bold gentleman took my “Kiss me; I’m Anglican” t-shirt literally. I’m thankful this is not TEC General Convention. (Now I need to hover around some hot Anglican women.)

If you are looking for me today at ACNA . . .

I’ll be wearing a red t-shirt that says, “Kiss me; I’m Anglican” and a black cap. Hard to miss.

And remember I have free copies of my book God Knows What It’s Like to Be a Teenager in my pick-up for those who want them.

ACNA First Day Afterthoughts

I’m more than a little tired, and this post will probably show it. But I want to post some thoughts on this momentous day.

It was indeed a great day for North American Anglicanism. It is official – we are the Anglican Church in North America. I have been praying for this for years. And thanks be to God for how He answers prayer!

It has not completely sunk in that this is for real, however. Part of that is that I am tired, and part of it is when a dream comes true, it is sometimes hard to believe it is no longer just a dream.

Kudos again to St. Vincent’s Cathedral. Bishop Iker’s men showed ACNA how to worship! The Eucharist today was a glorious and meet start to a momentous afternoon.

And kudos to Bishop Duncan for his leadership of the first session, which passed the Constitution. His unhurried style had me concerned for a while. But I already see he has a gift for working graciously with people, whether they be individuals or an assembly.

He honestly let the assembly know how he wanted to proceed. But he did so in a way that was fair to any opposition. He made it clear that if things did not go his way, he could deal with that; the world wouldn’t come to an end. If ACNA had to go back and do some things over, that was o. k.

And his low key manner of chairing the assembly worked wonders. As I live-blogged, I was surprised how effortlessly the Constitution passed.

So with God’s help, we now we have a new united church with a new Constitution with a minimum of hard feelings and a LOT of rejoicing . . . not bad for us Anglicans, not bad at all.

Today was a good day.

(edit: I just now see I spelled it "ANCA" in the title. I told you I was tired! Off to bed with me!)

ACNA Assembly, First Session UPDATED

Bishop Duncan began the session with prayer at 2:45 then read the very appropriate Gospel from yesterday, Mark 4:35-41.

+Duncan made a number of introductions including ++Rowan’s Pastoral Visitor, the Rt. Rev'd Santosh Marray, retired bishop of the Seychelles (2005-2008).

+Duncan, who is the chair, is proceeding rather slowly. I hope that doesn’t result in problems later. The Assembly does have a Constitution to debate and decide on, after all.

Now, there is a “mission minute.” I question how appropriate that is at this moment. If saying that makes me sound hard-hearted, then so be it. There is rather important business at hand. Again, I hope my concerns prove unfounded.

Almost as soon as I posted my concern, +Duncan turned to the subject of the Constitution. I’m glad to see that. He is now urging the delegates to avoid “the patterns of Egypt” after leaving Egypt, e. g. not do things as the Episcopal Church does. He wants most of the work done beforehand by smaller groups, then ratified or rejected by the Assembly. He said waiting another year is fine, but that trying to perfect the Constitution in assembly ala TEC General Convention is not the way to go.

The Preamble is now under consideration. Christopher Cantrell urges striking the “grieved” clause. A delegate, I think from Pittsburgh, agrees, says we should look to the future. A delegate from the American Anglican Council urges the clause stays in.

It appears there may be some “perfecting” whether +Duncan wants it or not. And now a delegate urges we go back to adopting, section by section (i.e. not clause by clause). Things getting more complicated already.

+Duncan notes no one has objected to “In the Name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit“ evoking great mirth.

Preamble, apart from disputed paragraphs, just approved without objection. (Duncan suggested doing that first.) Now those paragraphs are under discussion. But +Duncan asks for a preliminary show of hands, and clearly most approve keeping the paragraphs. And those are passed overwhelmingly by voice vote.

+Duncan did a good job of moving that along, while being fair to delegates.

On to Article I . . .

And Article I is adopted with little discussion. Article II adopted faster than I can type. +Duncan is not rushing. There is just very little, if any opposition. Encouraging so far.

Article III adopted with a quick and friendly amendment.

Article IV adopted with no opposition. Yes, this speed is surprising me. I thought that if even the Preamble evokes some discussion, then the Articles certainly would. We’ll see what happens with the rest of the articles.

Article V adopted with no opposition. +Duncan remarks, “I’m not used to this!”

Article VI ditto.

Article VII, with a friendly simplification from committee, adopted without opposition.

Article VIII, adopted with no opposition.

Article IX, with a friendly amendment from committee, adopted with no opposition.

Now, remarks from visitors. +Frank Lyons of Bolivia first, then +Calvancante of Reclife (a hero of mine).

Article X: There’s a friendly amendment. Then +Harvey of Canada asks some clarification on who determines an active bishop. +Duncan answers to his satisfaction. X approved with no opposition.

Article XI adopted with no opposition

Article XII. When +Duncan mentions it’s on “ownership of property”, there is chuckling. It is adopted with a loud and rousing voice vote and with no opposition, to much applause.

Article XIII and XIV adopted with no opposition. Seriously, these are getting passed faster than I can type. There is far, far less opposition than I expected. (And, yes, my earlier concerns are looking sillier by the minute. Mea culpa!)

Article XV now adopted with little opposition after a discussion about a possible inconsistency.

+Duncan: “We have done the work, brothers and sisters. We have constituted the Anglican Church in North America.” There is a long standing ovation of joy and the doxology. Thanks be to God!

Now recessed.

ACNA Assembly Random Notes UPDATED

Presiding Bp. Grundorf of the APA is here. I appreciate his persistence in seeking unity while many in the APA are not so inclined.

Security is pretty tight. I saw two policemen walking about when I got here. And the St. Vincent’s campus is closed to those without badges. Also, there is no walk up registration. (Or at least there isn’t supposed to be any and I’ve seen no deviation from that rule.)

I haven’t seen it on the official schedule, but I’m told Young Anglicans will have Compline tonight at 11pm. Sounds inviting if I can stay awake!

----

Sitting in the cathedral sanctuary now which is just about packed out 25 minutes before the service begins.

The Gospel for the opening Eucharist sure is appropriate, Matt. 10: 34-42 – “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Being faithful to Jesus unfortunately means division from those who refuse that path.

----

Well, that was a glorious service. I was hoping those Ft. Worth Anglo-Catholics would show ACNA how to worship, and they did! And that many people, with an excellent choir and organ, heartily singing to the Lord in that excellent space was glorious indeed.

The service did go a little long, perhaps because Bishop Duncan had a lot to say. :) So the first Assembly session will start late. I’m awaiting it in the gym. I might try my hand at liveblogging it on a new post.

----

Interesting, ++Rowan has sent a Pastoral Visitor to the ACNA Assembly. (BabyBlue is also here and covering ACNA, btw.)

----

Bishop Duncan’s address to the Opening Eucharist is now posted. I agree that the timing of this being St. Alban’s Day is remarkable.

Worship This Morning with ACNA Bishops

I’m glad I decided to come here early to attend Choral Eucharist at St. Vincent’s this morning. It was quite the occasion with the bishops of the Anglican Church in North America attending. You can imagine what a procession that was. Seeing all the bishops of different jurisdictions coming up the aisle was wonderful.

St. Vincent’s has an interesting sanctuary. It is spacious with excellent acoustics, but more plain than one would expect from an anglo-catholic cathedral. It is definitely not spikey. I like it though. And the choir and organ were impressive.

The Primate of the Southern Cone Gregory Venables presided, the first time he has done so at St. Vincent’s since the Diocese of Ft. Worth came under his wings. He, Bishop Iker, and Bishop Duncan wore big golden mitres, of which I heartily approve. Sadly, most of the other bishops did not follow their godly example. (Hey. So I like tat.)

The retiring Archbishop of Kenya, Benjamin Nzimbi, gave a rousing sermon. ++Venables also made some remarks before giving the closing blessing. Referring to the Gospel from Mark 4:35-41, he noted that things may get bumpy in the boat with Jesus, but He will get us to the other side. Jesus did not say, “Let us go into the middle of the lake and drown.”

It was indeed an appropriate Gospel and message for the beginning of ACNA.

Then ++Venables invited Bishop Duncan to join him for the blessing, and they gave it in unison.

There was a reception afterwards. St. Vincent’s knows how to put out a spread!

The College of Bishops should be meeting as I type this. If I hear anything of note, I’ll let you know.

“Death to Khamenei!”

Although I’m focusing on the ACNA Assembly, I cannot ignore what is going on in Iran. The enormities of the evil regime there have become so outrageous that people are chanting “Death to Khamenei,” an bold act unthinkable until now.

Here is an excellent, updated, and disturbing summary of today’s events.

Please continue to pray for the people of Iran.

Brief Report from ACNA College of Bishops Meeting

I decided to drive to Bedford early. Once I got here, I took a shower, then headed over to St. Vincent’s Cathedral to see if anything was going on there.

There indeed was. The College of Bishops meeting was just breaking up after meeting for most of the day. I saw REC Bishop Ray Sutton and Bishop Iker in what appeared to be serious conversation. And I saw Southern Cone Bishops Venables and Lyons, so they are participating at least as observers.

I joined some of the bishops for Evening Prayer (TEC 1979, Rite II . . . Yes, I know. Don’t get me started.) They are meeting later for dinner at a steakhouse I won’t tell you about (and won’t crash either).

Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be able to tell you much more about the College of Bishops meeting. It’s bishops only. No observers (except maybe for their spouses, but I’m not even sure about that.) And I understand that.

I do know they elect the Archbishop tomorrow, presumed to be Bishop Robert Duncan.

I did introduce myself and have a nice conversation with Bishop Duncan. He’s very approachable and friendly.

By the way, pray I don’t gain 10 pounds during my week here. There’s a Pappadeaux practically next door to my hotel. Yummmmmmm!

Looking Forward to the ACNA Assembly

I am very much looking forward to attending the Anglican Church in North America’s first Provincial Assembly next week as an observer. I plan to drive up early, so perhaps I’ll meet some of my friends at 6pm Sunday Evening Prayer at St. Vincent’s Cathedral. (Those in town even earlier may want to attend the Choral Eucharist there at 9am, when the College of Bishops is expected to attend.)

I hope to meet many of you at the Assembly. I intend to scribble “wannabeanglican” on my I.D. card.

AND I will have copies of my book God Knows What It’s Like to be a Teenager with me. Free copies to those who ask. (I will limit it to three copies per church unless other arrangements are made.) Do remember that I wrote the book in my pre-Anglican days. So if you think it should be rewritten . . . I agree.

And, next week, I intend to blog only on the Assembly. Sorry, Obama.

Obama Has Fired Other Inspectors General

Obama’s firing of Americorp Inspector General Gerald Walpin is not an isolated incident. His administration has gone after other Inspectors General and fired two of them.

This is alarming because the office of Inspector General is designed to be above politics in order to protect taxpayers from their tax dollars being abused. A bit idealistic, yes. But someone needs to have the protected watchdog role of blowing the whistle on government waste and fraud.

But Obama is undermining that role at the same time that he is greatly increasing the power and spending of government. . . .

One doesn’t have to be a paranoid right-winger to suspect something is very wrong here.

“Help! Help! Religious Discrimination!”

This morning, I’m chuckling over this story. It appears a witches’ coven tried to hold a ball at a UK Roman Catholic facility. (No, I’m not making this up.) And the church said, sorry, we cannot quite accommodate that.

Well, the witches are casting evil spells getting all huffy about this “religious discrimination,” saying it harkens back to the days of burning witches.

In contrast to such absurd overstatement, the priest in charge engaged in wonderful English understatement:

The Reverend John Joyce explained: “Parish centres under our auspices let their premises on the understanding users and their organisations are compatible with the ethos and teachings of the Catholic Church. In this instance, we aren't satisfied such requirements are met.”

Meanwhile, no witches’ receptions are planned for the ACNA Provincial Assembly. At least none are on the schedule.

As for the TEC General Convention . . .

Obama’s AmeriCorps Scandal

Obama likes to talk (and talk and talk) about cutting wasteful spending. But don’t try to cut off government money to Obama’s cronies, or you will get cut off, just like now former AmeriCorps Inspector General Gerald Walpin.

Walpin was suddenly fired from his position, in violation of a federal law Senator Obama co-sponsored. Walpin’s crime? Cutting off federal funds from Obama crony Kevin Johnson after he was caught using AmeriCorps funds for personal and political purposes. That Sacramento just elected that crook as mayor made things that much more awkward.

There are other aspects to this that don’t pass the smell test. First Lady MacBeth Michelle Obama is flooding AmeriCorps with her people for one thing. Musn’t have a Bush holdover getting in the way of funneling the money to cronies.

So out goes Walpin for doing his job and doing it well. For “Change” has come to the White House, Chicago-style.

Oh, and don’t expect the Democrat Congress to investigate this.

The Wall Street Journal has written a good summary of the story as has Michelle Malkin.

I’ve called this matter a scandal. That might be a bit hopeful on my part. The Democrat Congress and the Obama-loving news media will likely enable the Obamas to get away with this.

Iran: Amadinejad Third?

While Obama can not bring himself to call the obvious Iran election fraud for what it is, a leaked report indicates just how big a fraud the “count” may be:

. . . reports circulated of leaked interior ministry statistics showing [Mousavi] as the clear victor in last Friday's polls.

The statistics, circulated on Iranian blogs and websites, claimed Mr Mousavi had won 19.1 million votes while Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won only 5.7 million.

The two other candidates, reformist Mehdi Karoubi and hardliner Mohsen Rezai, won 13.4 million and 3.7 million respectively. The authenticity of the leaked figures could not be confirmed.

Iran Update: Obama Plays “See No Evil”

There is a report from Iran that some Revolutionary Guard members are not playing along with the election theft there and have been arrested. That gives some hope because if enough of the Revolutionary Guard refuses to support the current regime, said regime may be in big trouble.

Meanwhile, it appears previous reports of the opposition rallies may have undercounted them. They may have been not just in the tens of thousands, but from two to three million(!). No wonder the Supreme Leader is fidgeting. Now his thugs are cracking down further on foreign news media, even banning them from reporting from Tehran at all.

Speaking of Supreme Leaders, Obama and his State Department profess they are unsure that the Iranian election count was fraudulent.

What!? Let’s see. You have a supposed hand count of about 40 million ballots in hours. I guess Allah helped with the count. You have results announced in a rush that contradict Supreme Leader Khamenei’s own private poll. And that’s just for starters. If George Bush had gone dictator on us and announced at 9pm on Election Night that McCain had won with 65% of the vote, would Obama have been so unsure of a fraudulent count then?

Of course, this is a man who seems to think ACORN doesn’t engage in election fraud.

In Love With His Own Voice

Just before I left to go pick up my mail and eat lunch, Obama began his healthcare speech to the AMA.

Imagine my shock when, after lunch, I get back in my car and still hear him speaking on the radio. I thought, surely they are replaying an excerpt. But no, he was still speaking. And I’ve driven home and am typing this out, and he is still speaking!

I think the man is in love with his own voice.

I don’t want to beat Obama’s totalitarian impulses into the ground (Yes, you do!). But this trait reminds me of dictators. Hugo Chavez and his marathon T. V. shows comes to mind.

Iran Update

I want to pop in briefly to update on the Iran situation. Tens of thousands of those who oppose the rigging of their presidential election have defied a rally ban to march in support of opposition leader Mousavi. Anger over the stolen election is strong enough that the Supreme Leader Khamenei has felt it necessary to appease public opinion with on investigation of the election (which investigation I suspect will be a sham). Here’s a Times story on these developments.

Interesting speculations and distressing video may be found here.

Please continue to pray for the people of Iran.

MORE: Here is one eyewitness account of the atrocities of Ahmadinejad’s Islamic goons, which includes attacking opponents with machetes.

Pray For Iran

Please pray for Iran today, particularly those who oppose the evil regime of mullahs. The mullahs’ boy, Ahmadinejad, did not win the voting, but he won the counting. And people who are tired of being ruled by bigoted Islamic thugs are rioting.

This note from the Times article is telling as to just how rigged the election was:

Private polling of 5,000 voters conducted for the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and seen by The Sunday Times, suggested the reformist candidate would win at least 58% of votes across Iran. However, the official result gave him just under 34%.

Much more can be found here.

BREAKING: Ahmadinejad Out in Iran? UPDATED

I just heard on CNBC that Ahmadinejad has been overwhelmingly defeated in Iran’s elections. No confirmation yet, though the Telegraph sniffed out this result.

Let’s pray it is so.

UPDATE: I’ve sniffed around a bit myself, and it seems the source for the above report is an aide to opposition candidate Mousavi. So take that as you will.

Ahmadinejad has also claimed victory, of course.

Inflation on the Way

Mark my words: serious inflation, probably stagflation, is on the way.

Why do I so pontificate with such confidence/despair? These two charts.

You have been warned.

45% Want Rest of Stimulus Spending Cancelled!

I think this Rasmussen poll is a bit of a bombshell. A plurality of 45% want the rest of the “stimulus” spending cancelled.

That very few politicians (Actually, I don’t know of any outside of Ron Paul.) advocate cancelling the rest of stimulus spending shows how far out of touch they now are with the American people. And that includes many or most Republican politicians. Heck, by Washington standards, cancelling the rest of the stimulus spending is way-out-there extreme radical caveman right wing!

This poll certainly confirms that the tide may have turned against Obama and his allies. If the economy doesn’t significantly improve soon, things could get downright ugly.

Hat tip to Hot Air.

The Episcopal Church Says No Buddhist Bishop For Now

I have to admit I expected Thew Forester, the would-be Buddhist TEC bishop, to get the necessary consents. But apparently he will not. Since I enjoy beating up The Episcopal Church, it is only fair that I note that.

Now I could take a rather jaundiced view or note that a number of the votes against him did not directly address his Buddhism and various heresies.

But TEC just said no to a heretic. And that is a good thing and amazing to behold.

++Duncan: Opposition to ACNA Constitution May Require “More Work”

Bishop Robert Duncan, who will likely be the first Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, defends the proposed Constitution and Canons in an introduction to them.

But what I find most interesting is the following:

Our vision is for fairly straightforward up or down votes on articles and canons. If the Provincial Council has discerned it rightly, and we have significant consensus, a matter is ratified. If not, the matter is sent back to Provincial Council for more work. Most things, if not easily agreeable, can wait another year or two.

I think that a remarkably frank concession that passage of the Constitution and Canons might not go smoothly. He does frame the potential difficulty as not the end of the world should it occur. He neither dismisses the opposition to passage, nor insists that the Constitution and Canons must pass as is or else.

And I think him wise to so frame the situation. But it is interesting that the potential opposition is significant enough that he feels the need to say this.

An Interesting Poll: Is the Tide Turning Here?

The beat-down the Left just suffered in Europe begs the question, how does the Left stand in the U. S.?

Some interesting polls indicate that, although we are nowhere near a beat-down phase, the popularity of Obama and his allies has waned rather quickly less than six months into his administration. This one I find particularly interesting at the moment: Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on the economy as well as on a number of other issues. The number on the economy is 45% Republicans – 39% Democrats.

Given that the Republicans lost the election big just six months ago mostly on the economy, this is a remarkable turnaround that cannot bode well for Democrats. Of course, the economy could blip up and change this.

I may say more on this “change” in due time. But I will give into the temptation to make a worthless prediction:

The Republicans will make significant gains in the 2010 Congressional elections, but not come close to taking either house. Then in 2012 comes the beat-down for which I so eagerly yearn.

You heard it here first.

Euro and UK Voters tell Left and EU to . . .

Well, I am not going to complete that sentence as I do not think there is a polite way to describe the strong message European and particularly UK voters sent to the Left and to the EU in EU parliamentary elections.

The UK results are especially revealing – and gratifying. Much attention has been given to the BNP’s gains, but I think it much more significant that the UKIP (which is anti-EU without the racist baggage) has suddenly become the go-to third party in the UK and even polled ahead of Labour. The worthless pro-EU Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, fell behind. Up to now, the Lib Dems have been the main third party, but no more, thanks to their failure to provide a real alternative and their EU sycophancy.

And, of course, Labour got slaughtered, not only losing to the Tories and the UKIP overall but polling behind other parties in a number of regions. You have to go back several decades to find a worse result for Labour.

The message is unmistakable – UK voters have had it with both Labour’s Gulag UK and Gulag EU.

The Tories also had better listen and listen well. Voters do not want a lighter shade of Labour.

Lost Another One . . .

Jeffrey Steel is swimming the Tiber.

Sotomayor “Wise Latina” Comment NOT An Aberration

Obama and his men have tried to spin Sonia Sotomayor’s “wise Latina” comment, namely . . .

I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.

. . . as a poor choice of words that she would say differently if she had a do-over.

There is a slight problem with that, um, explanation. It turns out she has said the same thing again and again and again. If it is a poor choice of words, it is a choice she has made repeatedly.

By the way, a partial correction of an earlier entry is in order. Sotomayor is not now a member of La Raza (“The Race”). She was a member from 1998 to 2004. . . which is kinda like saying someone used to be a member of the KKK. But anyway, no racism to see here. Move along.

Guns and God: Piece Be With You!

Now this is my kind of church!

A Kentucky pastor is inviting his flock to bring guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment.

New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church June 27, a Saturday. An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.

Here’s more info if you want to go. Now the guns can’t be loaded, which is a shame. It would add a nice touch to fire off a few rounds during key parts of the service or as an emphatic way to say “Amen!”

I think an Anglican church should try this. Instead of ringing bells at the Sanctus and consecration . . .

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Fire off a round for Hot Air.

Democrats Kill Efforts to Prevent Vote Fraud

Here in Texas, Republicans in the Legislature tried to combat vote fraud with a reasonable Voter ID bill. But Democrats so wanted to leave a door open for vote fraud that they brought the whole legislative session to close to a standstill in order to stop Voter ID.

But who knows if the U. S. Justice Department of Eric Holder and Obama would have allowed Voter ID to go forward even if it passed. For they have killed Georgia’s voter verification efforts to ensure only citizens register to vote. Obama wants to get those illegal alien votes, don’t you know.

Remember the Democrat Party platform itself opposes Voter ID laws. It’s not for nothing that I’ve dubbed it The Party of Vote Fraud.

ACNA Disagreement Over Historic Episcopate

I am disappointed to see there is dissent within the Anglican Church in North America over language in the proposed constitution affirming the historic episcopate, at least enough dissent that Bishop John Rodgers thought it necessary to address it. The offending language is the following:

We confess the godly historic Episcopate as an inherent part of the apostolic faith and practice, and therefore as integral to the fullness and unity of the Body of Christ.

But as Matt+ Kennedy points out, this clause does not require an Anglo Catholic reading.

Still, there are some evangelicals unhappy about the language.

I’m hesitant to say much because I do not wish to increase the disagreement. And I am confident most ACNA evangelicals can and will approve of this language. However, some ACNA evangelicals would do well to ask themselves if they really want to be Anglican. Anglicans generally do think bishops are Pretty Important after all.

And Anglicans are not all a bunch of low church evangelicals. Orthodox Anglicans range from low churchers that flinch at the mention of Mary to Anglo-Catholics floating on clouds of incense – and that’s how it should be because that is what Christ’s church looks like.

So our constitution should reflect that and be a document both evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics can live with. And the proposed constitution does that well. It should not be a document that imposes one party’s viewpoint on the whole church. Nor should the constitution be so dumbed down that it can barely bring itself to affirm the historic Episcopate!

We are the Anglican Church in North America after all.

Having said all that, this suggestion might be a good resolution.

Double Standards and Sotomayor

As Mona Charen well notes, the vetting of Sonia Sotomayor and past judicial nominees reveals a number of double standards. Like Ms. Charen, I doubt Sotomayor is a racist. However . . .

If a white male nominee had been discovered to have said something similar -- that he was better situated to judge due to his background and life experiences than a Latina woman -- he would be cashiered so fast as to induce whiplash.

Gosh, you think?

And Sotomayor, with her past statements and current associations, particularly her membership in La Raza (i.e. “The Race”), she has far more marks of racism than any number of past white male nominees attacked on the pretense of supposed racism. Charen reviews the Charles Pickering episode as one despicable example of such Democrat double standards and outright slander:

. . . Judge Pickering had been a friend to civil rights throughout his career. To its credit, the New York Times actually quoted longtime associates of the judge and members of the black community in Pickering's hometown who "overwhelmingly support his nomination . . . and admire his efforts at racial reconciliation." The black chairman of the city council told the Times, "I can't believe the man they're describing in Washington is the same one I've known for years." They recalled that as a young prosecutor in 1967, Pickering had endangered his career (and perhaps more) by testifying in court against the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. He was known for hiring black staffers at a time when few white Mississippians did. Pickering encouraged the chancellor of University of Mississippi to form the Institute for Racial Reconciliation and served on its board for many years. . . .

Yet, without blushing, John Kerry transmogrified Judge Pickering into "a forceful advocate for a cross-burner."

Yet these same Democrats are about to give a pass to the Supreme Court to a woman who openly thinks she can make better decisions than a white male because she is a Latina.

Second Thoughts on Opposition to Sotomayor

Last week I counseled Republicans to be very careful about opposing the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

I’m having second thoughts about that.

Of course, I don’t think Republicans should be reckless or nasty in opposing her, especially when the “mainstream” news media is so eager to lie twist the words of those in opposition.

But it has become clear that, even if she is not a racist as Rush Limbaugh has proclaimed or a sexist, her own words make it clear she cannot and should not be trusted to be fair in matters where race or gender crops up.

She said what she meant, and she meant what she said: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."
No white nominee could get away with that statement's corollary in which a wise white man comes to better conclusions that a Latina. Nor should he.


And that fact is already resonating to the point where Obama has felt compelled to spin it. People don’t like racism no matter where it comes from, and Obama knows it.

I am also alarmed by her membership in La Raza. That’s Spanish for “The Race”, people. And, yes, that organization is as racist as it sounds. What if a white nominee belonged to a white power group called “The Race”?

So here we have the irony of a Black president appointing a Supreme Court justice based on race and gender. And that Latina nominee has shown the disposition to be racially biased and strengthen the racial spoils racket just after the election of said President has blown away the need for it.

The irony of that is already sinking in and Republicans should run with that. Obama’s nomination is brazen and certainly not “post-racial”, and, although he will succeed in getting her on the court, it should be opposed, and Obama should be made to pay a political price.

And, thanks to Sotomayor’s own words and choices, Obama can be made to pay a political price.

Two Thoughts on the Murder of George Tiller

Actually I have three thoughts. To get the first one out of the way, the murder of George Tiller is wrong. As evil as Tiller’s mass late-term abortions were, killing him was wrong.

Second, this killing is the sort of thing that subverting constitutional democracy invites. One reason we have our constitutional democracy is so that heated issues can be dealt with by political means. We want to resolve issues like abortion by the ballot box and by the deliberation by those we elect, not by the gun.

But when those democratic means are cut off by unconstitutional judicial fiat, as in the case of elective abortion, the motivation to resort to the gun increases. And a few unstable people likely will do so. It is no coincidence that anti-abortion violence increased after Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe v. Wade in 1992. Hope to combat abortion by democratic means was dashed. So a few people felt compelled to resort to violent means.

I’m not inside the head of the man who killed Tiller. And one should not extrapolate too much from one incident. But if you arbitrarily cut off the constitutional democratic process on a heated issue as the Supreme Court has on abortion, then violence is a likely outcome. And the election of Obama certainly reduces hope of overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the abortion issue to the people and their representatives, making this another likely time for violence.

Third, it is right that pro-lifers are almost unanimously condemning the murder of Tiller. But as for those who defend elective late-term abortions, allow me to save them the trouble. If you defend elective late-term abortions, you have less moral judgement than a dog. Any outrage from you over Tiller’s killing or over just about anything is worth less than said dog’s bark. So you need not bother.

You’re welcome.