The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Archbishop: Rowan Williams Endorses Pullman

When one wonders if the current Archbishop of Canterbury - that enabler of apostates, who says of Anglo-Catholics his church has pushed into the Tiber, “God bless them. I don’t” - can sink any lower, he does.

Rowans Williams has written a warm and favorable review of Phillip Pullman’s The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. Williams apparently thinks he hasn’t done enough damage to the faith and to the church, so he aligns himself with an author who vomits hatred of both.

What’s next? Will His Grace praise The Satanic Bible as “very impressive”?

Don’t answer that question.

Cameron Calls for Stricter Limits on Abortion. Brown Promises . . . Himself.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it here, but I have on my twitter, that if I were a UK citizen I would vote UKIP. That’s how disgusted I’ve been with both major parties.

But now David Cameron is pleasantly surprising me to the point that I might have to change my mind. First, he has called for lowering the time limit for abortions. He has also spoken against assisted suicide. And his Tories have blocked Labour compulsory sex education proposals.

Gordon Brown, on the other hand, has pledged that he will serve a full five years as PM if Labour wins. . . .

Uh, is that supposed to make British want to vote for Labour?

Volker Reveals VAT Tax on the Way

Paul Volker has spilled the beans before the election. If we allow them to stay in power, Democrats will sooner or later push for a VAT tax. And that’s just for starters. Volker talked fondly of a carbon tax, too.

Every time in the past 80 years we have allowed the Democrats to gain too much power, they have pushed, often successfully, tax slavery. This latest push is more of the same. Look at the tax rates FDR and LBJ inflicted on us once they gained enough power in Congress. So do NOT think, “Oh surely they won’t do that.” They will if we let them. Do not think the Democrats have outgrown their fondness for slavery.

I may revisit this subject again.

++Gomez to Succeed --Mahony in Los Angeles

Today comes news that Jose Gomez, Archbishop of San Antonio, will succeed Cardinal Roger Mahony as Archbishop of Los Angeles upon Mahony’s retirement. (Mahony reaches the retirement age of 75 in February.)

I’ve heard nothing but good things about ++Gomez. And he clearly has a heart for Anglicans. So I am glad to see this.

As for Mahony, his weak defense of the faith and of children is well documented. He should not have been allowed to retire in good standing. But if it be so, his retirement cannot come soon enough.

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Housekeeping: I just now noticed that this is my 2000th post. Yes, I can be persistent.

“The Light of Christ!”

One of the several reasons I became Anglican is that Anglican worship is more participatory. Well, this Easter, did I get to participate!

For the Easter Vigil, I got to carry the Paschal Candle in, chanting “The Light of Christ” at the three stations in the sanctuary. I’ve wanted to do that for at least a year or two. And I chant quite well if I may say so myself. I also read two of the lessons. (I’m not a deacon, but was vested as a cantor . . . for those who wonder about such things.)

The beginning of the procession was comical, however. There was a breeze, even in the church courtyard were we lit the New Fire. So we lit the Paschal Candle from it with some difficulty. Then, as I was carefully walking the candle to the door a persistent gust blew it out. We returned to the New Fire. But it was already an ex-fire. So the rector simply used his lighter to relight the candle. The congregation was amused.

There was more improvisation on Easter morning as a key pool of acolyte kids were late. I volunteered at the last minute and was the crucifer. So much for showing off my rarely seen Easter suit and sitting comfortably in the pew, but I enjoyed worshipping in the middle of such a glorious service.

About Fr. Raniero’s Sermon

I was going to abstain from controversy for the Triduum. But I think defending brothers from unjust attack is certainly appropriate for these days, so I will do so.

There is much wailing and carrying on over the Good Friday sermon by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa. In it, he supposedly made an inappropriate comparison between the recent attacks on the Roman Catholic church and past attacks on Jews. And many, even Ruth Gledhill, are using the sermon as an opportunity to attack the RC church as a whole.

But before we get overwrought, let us actually read the sermon passage in question:

By a rare coincidence, this year our Easter falls on the same week of the Jewish Passover which is the ancestor and matrix within which it was formed. This pushes us to direct a thought to our Jewish brothers. They know from experience what it means to be victims of collective violence and also because of this they are quick to recognize the recurring symptoms. I received in this week the letter of a Jewish friend and, with his permission, I share here a part of it.

He said: "I am following with indignation the violent and concentric attacks against the Church, the Pope and all the faithful by the whole world. The use of stereotypes, the passing from personal responsibility and guilt to a collective guilt remind me of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism. Therefore I desire to express to you personally, to the Pope and to the whole Church my solidarity as Jew of dialogue and of all those that in the Jewish world (and there are many) share these sentiments of brotherhood. Our Passover and yours are undoubtedly different, but we both live with Messianic hope that surely will reunite us in the love of our common Father. I wish you and all Catholics a Good Easter."

And also we Catholics wish our Jewish brothers a Good Passover.

My! How terrible! I must now go bash Cafflicks!

Seriously, I think to be offended by that sermon, one must be looking for excuses to be offended . . . or to Catholic bash.

I am confident my pious readers have better things to do and will have a quiet and peaceful Holy Saturday and a glorious Easter. And I also hope my Jewish friends have a Good Passover indeed. And my non-believing friends may be assured my thoughts and prayers are with you as well. God bless.

An Easter Message from Archbishop Duncan

Received via e-mail from the Anglican Church in North America:


"Go make the tomb secure"


Pilate invites Jerusalem's leaders to "secure" the tomb of Jesus [Mt.27.62-66]. They "secure" the tomb with a stone, sealant and soldiers. As if these could contain our Lord. Their efforts prove inadequate. Their materials and means turn out to be no match for the One through whom all things were made.

In this first year of the life of the Anglican Church in North America we have so much for which to give thanks. First and foremost is the cross of Jesus Christ, by which all previous securities are undone, and life comes by death.

There are many tombs which others have tried to "secure" with us inside. There are also some tombs in which we have been tempted to "secure" ourselves. None of these tombs hold when Jesus is there.

They can take our buildings and our assets here at home. They can even take our lives, as in far-flung places like Nigeria and Sudan and Indonesia But Jesus is with all those who embrace Him above all else, who follow Him to - and through - whatever crosses are asked.

For us as faithful Anglican Christians the efforts by others to "secure" our tombs have failed miserably, just as they did with the One we call on as Lord and Savior. There has been suffering and loss, pain and grief, anxiety and fear - these things have been very real, and demanded our very best efforts, as well as the grace of the Holy Spirit in abundance. "But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" [1 Cor.15.57].

As I look across the Anglican Church in North America this Easter - seeing its life, its vitality, its healing, its unity, its compassion, its forgiveness, its renewal, its multiplication and growth, its international partners, its clear sense of mission, its appreciation of the transforming love of Jesus Christ - I think I am understanding the mystery and the truth of Easter better than I ever have before. I hope you and yours are too. With Jesus it is just not possible to "secure" any tomb. Easter joy and love to all.

The Most Reverend Robert William Duncan, D.D.
Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America
Anglican Bishop of Pittsburgh

Easter, A.D. 2010