Monday, December 10, 2007

Archbishop scores a few points

Ugandan-born Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, cut up his dog collar today and vowed not to wear it again until Robert Mugabe was no longer in control of Zimbabwe. He called Mugabe, ‘the worst king of fascist dictator,’ before going on to explain that he felt it hypocritical that a white man would always be vilified for such lunatic behaviour as Magabe’s, whilst Mugabe himself has received solid support from several African leaders.

What was striking about the Archbishop’s actions was that they represented a loud and overt political gesture over a matter that most people would agree was worth raising. The Church of England, by and large, does not go in for this kind of thing, or if they do I cannot personally remember the last time that it happened. It was rather refreshing to see it.

It’s not that I have any great respect for church leaders, it’s just that given what they stand for - Christian values - it’s nice to see one of them walking the walk for once. It has often occurred to me that, although I particularly despise their brand of stupidity, it is only the Jehovah’s Witnesses who organise themselves to knock on people’s doors and try to talk us all out of eternal damnation. It seems to me that if you really believe in heaven and hell, then it is only decent to go around and warn the rest of humanity about what we are all letting ourselves in for. If you believe, then it’s the least you should do; it is logically consistent.

I have an image of a Church of England vicar visiting me on a pastoral day-visit to hell.
‘Why didn’t you warn me if you knew that this would happen? I ask him.
‘Didn’t want to bother you,’ he says.

In truth, I prefer the C of E’s didn’t want to bother you approach. Apart from anything else, it saves all the hiding behind the sofa that the Jo-Ho’s visit upon us, but it does nothing to assist with the church’s credibility and nothing to drum up a flock for a dwindling institution.

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