TANZANIA: Three thousand attend enthronement of Tanzania's new Primate
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby honoured at his fellow Primate's installation

By Bella Zulu
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2013/5/20/ACNS5393
May 20, 1013

Around 3,000 people from Tanzania, other parts of Africa and beyond gathered at Dodoma's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Saturday (18 May) for the installation of the Anglican Church of Tanzania's new Primate.

The enthronement of the Bishop of Mpwapwa Dr Jacob Erasto Chimeledya was described by one church worker as "like a dream" because of the number of dignitaries in attendance. These included the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion Archbishop Justin Welby and his wife Caroline.

Other notable guests at the service included the Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya the Most Revd Eliud Wabukala and representatives from other Anglican Provinces including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. As Dodoma is the country's political capital, the service was also attended by many government leaders including the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete.

Archbishop of Myanmar: "God kept me from committing suicide"

By ACNS staff
May 19, 2013

The Archbishop of Myanmar, Stephen Than Myint Oo has revealed that, during his time in prison, he planned to kill himself and that it was God's intervention that stopped him.

In the latest Anglican World magazine, Archbishop Stephen tells journalist Mark Brolly that 30 years ago, after two years imprisonment by the ruling military junta, he prepared to end his life.

Religious Group Blocks Laws that Could Stop other Kermit Gosnells

By John Lomperis
www.theird.org
May 19, 2013

One of the individuals honored by RCRC's recent celebration of "all" abortion providers. RCRC still insists that abortion clinics must be trusted to self-regulate. (Photo credit: Dallas Morning News)

In early May, the trial of Kermit Gosnell was drawing to a close. Our nation was gripped by the revelations of how for years, this notorious abortionist had enjoyed free reign to do his bloody work in horrifically unsanitary, effectively unregulated conditions, resulting in the murder of a number of newly born-alive babies and one mother, along with the countless human beings similarly killed inside the womb.

Serious questions were being raised about what our legal regime and social culture of abortion-on-demand had unleashed, and the moral inconsistency being horrified by Gosnell's crimes while supporting pre-birth abortion.

AUSTRALIA: Anglican Bishop of Grafton quits over 'failings' in child abuse complaints

By Nick Ralston
THE SYDNEY HERALD
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/anglican-bishop-of-grafton-quits-over-failings-in-child-abuse-complaints-20130518-2jsx4.html
May 18, 2013

An Anglican bishop has resigned over his failure to properly pass on child sex abuse complaints at a children's home on the NSW north coast.

Keith Slater has stood down as the Bishop of the Diocese of Grafton, apologising for his "past failings" in the management of claims of abuse at the North Coast Children's Home in Lismore.

"I apologise to those who bravely came forward to tell their story of abuse and were turned away," he said in a statement. "I acknowledge the pain and further damage that this response may have caused."

In 2006 the Anglican Diocese of Grafton received a number of claims alleging acts of "physical, psychological and sexual abuse" at the home between the 1940s and the 1980s.

Why we must Care

A letter from Bishop John Guernsey
http://www.americananglican.org/
May 19, 2013

Dear Friends,

The murder trial of the Philadelphia abortionist, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, has been of great interest and deep concern to me. I wish I could say it had captured the attention of the nation, but, as you may know, it was largely ignored by the media. (The executive editor of the Washington Post said he hadn't been aware of the story.) The trial was sickening, not because of the filth in the clinic, not because of the body parts of fetuses in jars, not because of the reprehensibly irresponsible medical care which caused the death of 41-year old Karnamaya Mongar of Woodbridge, VA. The trial wasn't sickening because it showed something exceptional, but because it showed what abortion is and does.

Interfaith Event Teaches That U.S. Is 'Aiding' Oppression
Episcopal priest says Islamic leaders 'changed my life and thinking'

By Ryan Mauro
http://www.theird.org/
May 20, 2013

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) returned to All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California on May 5 to address the topic of radicalization in the wake of the Boston bombings. The church leader said there is a "crisis" of "Islamophobia" in America. MPAC denounced violence but said terrorism is a response to the U.S. "aiding and abetting oppression" at the behest of the military-industrial complex.

At the May 5 event, church leader Rev. Ed Bacon said that he "literally had my life changed and my thinking changed because of these two leaders," referring to MPAC leaders Maher Hathout and Salam al-Marayati. He went so far as to say that the Islamic Center of Southern California, where Hathout is a spokesman and Muslim Brotherhood texts are used, is "my mosque." At the event, both MPAC leaders denounced terrorism and said Muslims must provide a counter-narrative to the violent themes that radicalize. Hathout said that too many Muslims are "soft" in confronting the radical ideas and have a "gang" mentality where they automatically side with other Muslims against non-Muslims.

Sin and the Distorted Image

By Jim Tonkowich
Institute on Religion and Democracy
www.theird.org
May 20, 2013

This week Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of three infants who were born alive in his clinic. In addition, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a patient and more than 200 other criminal counts.

As the Gosnell trial was going on, former employees of a Texas clinic came forward with stories even more gruesome than the testimony given in the Gosnell trial.

Real reasons behind Anglican Church split: An African perspective and critique

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
May 19, 2013

NEWS ITEM: Recently, The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe ruled in favor of the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa [CPCA] in a legal case involving the Province and breakaway former bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland Elson Jakazi. In 2007, Jakazi and his supporters broke away from CPCA and unlawfully took over the Cathedral, churches and many other church properties. A final ruling by the Supreme Court confirmed that Jakazi and his supporters had withdrawn from the Church "in their individual capacities", adding, "The Diocese could not be withdrawn by the applicants [Jakazi and supporters] from its first respondents [CPCA].

SANDWICH, Mass: Episcopal priest suspended for plagiarism

By George Brennan
http://www.capecodonline.com/
May 17, 2013

SANDWICH - One of the Ten Commandments is "thou shall not steal," but an Episcopal priest has been suspended for allegedly lifting more than a dozen Sunday sermons verbatim from a book.

The Rev. John E. McGinn, 65, who has led the 300-plus families at St. John's Episcopal Church since 1993, was placed on administrative leave amid allegations that he plagiarized sermons dating back to 2006, said the Rev. Mally Lloyd, canon to the ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, a position equivalent to the bishop's chief of staff.

As many as 15 sermons have been identified as direct copies, Lloyd said.

How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind

by Dr. Benjamin Wiker
http://www.strangenotions.com/flew/
May 19, 2013

EDITOR'S NOTE: For the last half of the twentieth century, Antony Flew (1923-2010) was the world's most famous atheist. Long before Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris began taking swipes at religion, Flew was the preeminent spokesman for unbelief. However in 2004, he shocked the world by announcing he had come to believe in God. While never embracing Christianity-Flew only believed in the deistic, Aristotelian conception of God-he became one of the most high-profile and surprising atheist converts. In 2007, he recounted his conversion in a book titled There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. Some critics suggested Flew's mental capacity had declined and therefore we should question the credibility of his conversion. Others hailed Flew's book as a legitimate and landmark publication. A couple months before the book's release, Flew sat down with Strange Notions contributor Dr. Benjamin Wiker for an interview about his book, his conversion, and the reasons that led him to God. Read below and enjoy.

Anglican Mainstream Writes Letter in Support of St. James Newport Beach

May 16, 2013

To the Rev Richard Crocker and people of St James, Newport Beach

Dear Friends and Fellow Christians,

We were very disturbed and saddened and saddened to read the news that legal proceedings against you by other Anglicans mean that you may soon be deprived of your property at St James and have to find alternative accommodation.

We wish first to assure you of our fellowship with you as you continue to take your stand on biblical and orthodox Anglican teaching. We share with you a passion to proclaim the gospel of our risen Lord Jesus Christ and affirm you in your faithful discipleship.

BANJUL, Gambia: Anglican Church of West Africa celebrates 62 Years

By Archbishop S. Tilewa Johnson
Church of West Africa
May 17, 2013

Your Grace, MiLords, Clergy, Seminarians, Laity of the Church of West Africa (Anglican Communion), Friends, All.

Sixty Two years ago, at a Special Meeting held in Freetown Sierra Leone, six Dioceses came together to establish, after due process, the Church of the Province of West Africa - CPWA (Anglican Communion).

The Anglican Communion, as we know, is a section of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which Church was inaugurated Fifty days after the glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Communion is a group of episcopally led catholic and reformed churches which are in full communion with the See of Canterbury. We have an estimated worldwide membership of about 85 million in nearly 170 countries. We are the third largest Christian Communion in the world after the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

The motto of the Anglican Communion is: The Truth shall make you free. St John 8: 32.

British imams and Muslim leaders speak out against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/
May 18, 2013

Letter published in the Sunday Telegraph here

SIR - We have serious misgivings about the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which seeks to legalise gay marriage.

As imams and Muslim leaders we have a responsibility to fulfil our sacred trust to God and present our view on these proposals on behalf of the Muslim communities we serve.

Marriage is a sacred contract between a man and a woman that cannot be redefined. We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is the cornerstone of family life and the only institution within which to raise children.

Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill
Church of England cannot support the Bill

Church of England
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/
Press Release
May 18, 2013

The House of Commons will consider the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill at Report Stage and Third Reading on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st May.

A Church of England briefing for MPs in advance of the Bill's Second Reading was published in February. That briefing summarised the principled reasons why the Church could not support the Bill and included a detailed Q&A on some of the more commonly asked questions (and misconceptions) about the impact of the legislation on the Church of England. It can be seen here.

Archbishop of Canterbury abandons his support for civil partnerships for heterosexual couples
U-turn will anger both Tory backbenchers and campaigners who argue heterosexual couples should be able to enter civil partnerships as an alternative to marriage

Andy McSmith and Sarah Morrison
THE INDEPENDENT
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/
May 18, 2013

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has abandoned his support for allowing heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships under pressure from the church hierarchy.

His climbdown will be welcomed by the Government as it looks to finally ensure the smooth passage of the equal marriage bill through the House of Commons this week, against Conservative backbench and Labour Catholic opposition.

But the Archbishop's U-turn will anger both Tory backbenchers and campaigners who argue that in the name of equality, heterosexual couples should be able to enter civil partnerships as an alternative to marriage.