Monday, July 19, 2010

Does the Episcopal Church Actually Care about the Poor?

You hear a lot of talk about "peace and justice" and "concern for the poor" from the Episcopal Church and other liberal Protestants, but the high-minded humanitarianism they profess is really just a cover for their true priorities. They are not interested in helping the poor; the essence of their whole position is that the government should take money from people like you and me by coercion and use it to build a giant welfare state in which everyone becomes dependent on the government. This is a revolutionary and Utopian political agenda, which has always led to repression, slavery and unaccountable government in every place it has been tried so far. But they wouldn't get very far being open about what they really want, would they?

Remember when Obama made a mistake and said that he favored "spreading the wealth around" to Joe the Plumber during the last election campaign? His handlers panicked and went into overdrive denying that he was a socialist. It is one thing to be one, but quite another for the general public come to perceive you in that way. So with the Episcopal Church: talk about peace, justice and poverty relief to cover over your true agenda.

Once in a while, however, you get a chance to see their priorities on display, as in this story about the on-going anti-marriage, pro-pansexualism agenda:
A Michigan-based gay rights foundation has given more than $400,000 to a California seminary to help craft formal liturgies for the Episcopal Church to bless gay and lesbian relationships.

The Episcopal Church still officially considers marriage between a man and a woman, reflected in the marriage rite of its Book of Common Prayer. Many dioceses, however, unofficially allow priests to bless same-sex relationships and even marriages.

Because the church puts a high value on scripted liturgies, many same-sex couples want their own marriage/blessing rite since many bishops are reluctant to use the traditional husband-wife marriage liturgy for same-sex unions.

The church's 2009 General Convention gave the green light to collecting "theological and liturgical resources" that would form the basis of an official same-sex rite that could be added to the list of approved ceremonies.

Many observers expect the church, when it gathers again in 2012, to approve rites for same-sex unions, or at least give official approval to start the process, which can take several years.
Read the rest here.

Remember this little item the next time some liberal "poverty activist" tries to make you feel guilty because you are not supporting their socialist agenda. Ask yourself if they really care about the poor. If they can wast this kind of money on ridiculous games of pretending that homosexual relationships are really the same as marriage except in the obvious ways they are not, how committed are they to the poor?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Dude, why are you so angry? I am sorry to say that your obvious bitterness distorts the good things you may have to say. Of course, we in the Episcopal Church actually care about the poor, but we just happen to believe that budgets are moral documents. When any community (be it civil or spiritual) decides how it will use its resources, those decisions reflect the spiritual health of that community. Most of us happen to think that our civil budgets also need to provide an environment in which the underprivileged have an opportunity to improve themselves.

You can certainly disagree with that approach, but it is foolishness to then declare that we are socialists with some secret agenda, or something stupid like that. The wise saints of Christ throughout the ages have always displayed their wisdom in their ability to recognize that they, most likely, are wrong in their opinions, due to their limited perspective. St. Paul is clear in the need for all in the body of Christ to exercise humility.

My friend, please prayerfully consider why you feel such anger, and how you can express humility in all of your interactions. "God's saving justice is never served by human anger" (James 1:20, NJB).

It is only fair to judge others by the same standard by which you wish to be judged. I believe that it is only right for me to consider others at their best, not at their worst. For we all fail and fall short. It is quite easy to point the finger. I think, in fact, that this is precisely the point that Jesus makes in the Gospels. It may be worth reading again.

Blessings on your walk with the Lord.

Dan said...

Because no conservative churches have ever spent money on anything to do with homosexuality?

Craig Carter said...

Dan,
Conservative churches have been forced to spend money defending marriage & family against those who reject natural law, Christian Tradition and the Bible. That is the fault of pro-sexual revolution organizations like the Episcopal Church. If the cultural Marxists would leave well enough alone, that money could be diverted from defending marriage to evangelism and poverty relief. So the Episcopal Church and other liberal denominations take it away from the poor twice over.

But at least conservative churches do not spend money promoting immorality.