Sunday, November 18, 2007

Tutu chides Church for gay stance




South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has criticised the Anglican Church and its leadership for its attitudes towards homosexuality.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4, he said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had failed to demonstrate that God is "welcoming".

He also repeated accusations that the Church was "obsessed" with the issue of gay priests.

He said it should rather be focusing on global problems such as Aids.

"Our world is facing problems - poverty, HIV and Aids - a devastating pandemic, and conflict," said Archbishop Tutu, 76.

"God must be weeping looking at some of the atrocities that we commit against one another.

"In the face of all of that, our Church, especially the Anglican Church, at this time is almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality."

Criticising Dr Williams, he said: "Why doesn't he demonstrate a particular attribute of God's which is that God is a welcoming God."

'Extraordinarily homophobic'

Archbishop Tutu referred to the debate about whether Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, could serve as the bishop of New Hampshire.

He said the Anglican Church had seemed "extraordinarily homophobic" in its handling of the issue, and that he had felt "saddened" and "ashamed" of his church at the time.

Asked if he still felt ashamed, he said: "If we are going to not welcome or invite people because of sexual orientation, yes.

"If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God."

Dr Williams has been working to limit divisions between liberal and traditionalist Anglicans that came to the fore following Bishop Robinson's consecration in 2003.

Following his plea for compromise, leaders of the Episcopal Church in the US agreed to halt the consecration of gay priests as bishops, to prevent a split in the Anglican Communion.

In the interview, Archbishop Tutu also rebuked religious conservatives who said homosexuality was a choice.

"It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual.

"You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred.

"It's like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society."

From Calvary To Lambeth will be aired on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 27 November at 2000 GMT.

10 comments:

capt said...

Three cheers for Archbishop Desmond Tutu!

David B. Benson said...

Gerald --- I think you would like Chalmers Johnson's Nemesis: the last days of the American republic. There is quite a good review by Stephen Holmes in The Nation, 2007 Oct 29 issue...

Gerald said...

DBB, thank you for the suggestion! I am going to surf the web to read the article. Chalmers Johnson has written some excellent reads.

Gerald said...

Nazi America’s Final Days

Dear Posters:

Let me start by saying that I have reduced my posts because I, personally, do not see much hope for our decadent, demented, deranged, diabolical, and demonic country. We live in an evil country.

Stephen Holmes in The Nation’s October 29, 2007 edition discusses Chalmers Johnson’s book, “Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic.” The book is a great read for people who have the time to read it. Stephen Holmes critiques the book in his article.

He says that 9/11 is to some degree blowback from America’s immoral and illegal behavior for generations. America will be in a constant state of warfare. Yes, we do have a military dictatorship and Hitler Bush will not leave office in January, 2009. We will face endless domestic tyranny in our country. Our mercenaries will be America’s army to protect Hitler Bush.

Yes, the legislative and judicial branches of government are broken. Our political system as we know it cannot be saved. America violently overreacted to 9/11. Stupid Americans permitted this overreaction. There are too many Americans who do not want to be informed of Nazi America’s misdeeds and murderous behaviors.

Americans must view their country through the eyes of others. America has exhibited a callous disregard for other people. Nazi America has been a bully for several generations.

We are left with little hope from Congress, the American public, and the Democratic Party. Nazi America will experience endless wars until it collapses. RETURNING TO AN IDEALIZED REPUBLICAN ORIGIN IS NIL.

May Nazi America rest in peace!!!

Sincerely,
Gerald

Gerald said...

Thanksgiving Hypocrisy

Thanksgiving should really be America's National Day of Atonement.

Gerald said...

What Does Iraq REALLY Cost?

Gerald said...

Pentagon Cover Up

I truly believe that there has been a cover up.

Gerald said...

That’s right; 15,000 dead US servicemen and women in a war that--as yet--has no legal or moral justification.

Gerald said...

Peace Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

Gerald said...

Medical studies have found that people who participate in mass protests are happier than other people. No study has found the same for people who participate in wars. I think this is because mass demonstrations for peace and justice involve something more than solidarity and camaraderie. They also involve the knowledge of working for the right end through the right means. What gives a life meaning is the awareness that you have dedicated your life to working to improve the world, not just at the end of a strategic sadistic adventure, but in every bit of the work you do. When you work for peace and justice, a little work does a little good, and a lot does a lot of good. And, while even your utmost exertion can fail, you know you will have done no harm, you will have set the right example, and you will have refused to sit silently by as crimes were committed.