News Analysis By David W. Virtue Episcopal Church revisionists have begun to spin the Network document presented at Plano this past week, with the Episcopal Church's leading homosexual revisionist Dr. Louie Crew announcing that he was surprised by its "tameness". "They did not even insist on 'alternate' or 'alternative' episcopal oversight, only on 'adequate' (the term used by the primates at their meeting in London last October)," writes Crew who sits on the church's Executi

Rector of St. Stephen's Parish in Sewickley, PA By David W. Virtue January 23, 2004 VIRTUOSITY: A document that you had a hand in writing was leaked to three media this past week - the Washington Post, the Religious News Service and The Guardian. What happened? CHAPMAN: I was leading a Special Projects team to provide Alternative Episcopal Oversight to churches at risk, as recommended by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates late last year. I came alongside the AAC to

Interview with Rev. Geoffrey Chapman By David W. Virtue January 23, 2004 Reverend Geoffrey Chapman, rector of St. Stephen's parish in Sewickley, Pennsylvania—the largest parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh with 2,000 members—discusses a controversial strategy document that was leaked to major media. Chapman led a Special Projects team providing Alternative Episcopal Oversight to at-risk churches, as recommended by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates. While collabora

By Elizabeth Day January 25, 2004 Professor John Harris, a senior member of the British Medical Association's ethics committee, has provoked outrage by claiming infanticide is "justifiable" in certain circumstances. During a Commons Science and Technology Committee consultation on human reproductive technologies, Professor Harris stated: "I don't think infanticide is always unjustifiable. I don't think it is plausible to think that there is any moral change that occurs during

By The Rev. Charles H. Nalls January 23, 2004 Tens of thousands of predominantly young pro-life demonstrators filled downtown Washington streets for the 31st anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Between 100,000-200,000 marchers from across America and internationally gathered, with a deafening roar erupting when a speaker asked everyone under 25 to identify themselves. A visible delegation from France joined the predominantly young American crowd. The surprisingly warm weather welcome

By Francis Ayieko, The Nation (Nairobi) January 15, 2004 The Uganda Anglican Church's decision to withdraw its invitation to the Episcopal Church USA for the enthronement of Archbishop Henry Orombi confirms an open split between liberals and conservatives in the 450-year-old Anglican Communion. The unprecedented move, protesting the installation of gay American Bishop Gene Robinson, represents the biggest jolt to the communion since Robinson became head of the New Hampshire

Feast of St. Hilary, January 14, 2004 An Anglican Church in America priest has challenged the Episcopal Bishop of Colorado to a public debate on whether "the devil has entered" the Episcopal Church. Father James C. Barlow of St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church in Estes Park issued the challenge to Bishop Robert O'Neill, proposing debate on one of three resolutions regarding demonic influence, spiritual discernment, and the authenticity of recent Episcopal Church decisions.

January 22, 2004 Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has issued a comprehensive letter addressing the state of the Episcopal Church following recent controversies. In his message to the House of Bishops and the wider church, Griswold expressed gratitude for how bishops and clergy are helping their dioceses navigate these challenging times with grace, regardless of individual perspectives. Griswold emphasized that despite internal difficulties, the church remains focused on missio

Press Association (UK) Up to 95% of lesbians and gays are not truly homosexual but "sexual perverts," Belgian Cardinal Gustaaf Joos claimed in a recent interview. "I will sign here in my own blood that of all those who say they are lesbian or gay, at most five to 10 percent are genuinely lesbian or gay," stated Cardinal Joos, 80, in comments to P-Magazine. "All the rest are simply sexual perverts. Don't hesitate to write that down." Joos, who studied with Pope John Paul II an

By J. Michael Garrison “The Fair Share” is how our diocese supports the wider Episcopal Church. Each parish’s annual commitment makes our giving a sign of God’s generosity. But now, some parishes—angered by GC’s confirmation of Bishop Robinson—are withholding or diverting funds. St. Stephen’s (Niagara Falls), St. Bartholomew’s (Tonawanda), St. Michael’s (Buffalo), and St. Mary’s (Salamanca) are sending only a pittance. St. Mark’s (Orchard Park) cut its pledge by one-third. To

By James Murray The Australian April 1, 2004 Priests in Australia’s largest Anglican diocese (Sydney) must now complete an 8-page questionnaire about sexual history—including relationships outside marriage—as part of a child-abuse crackdown. Also asked: involvement in the occult, cruelty to animals, internet/porn use, driving offenses, gambling, homosexual relationships, or charges involving minors. Required for new priests, transfers, and license renewals. “Yes” answers coul

By Fred Barnes The Weekly Standard 3/26/2004 BAGHDAD, Iraq — Pastor Jule’s Pentecostal church is new and not easy to find. After Saddam’s fall, he opened an above-ground church in Karrada—different from state-sanctioned churches that flattered Saddam. His church, tied to the Assemblies of God, elevates faith in Christ as personal Savior over state loyalty. Services (in Arabic) mirror American evangelicalism: “praise” music, Bible teaching (Nehemiah), and intense prayer. Men a

By Dennis Prager Townhall.com March 30, 2004 The United States is the only nation to define itself as Judeo-Christian—uniting secular government with a society based on religious values. What does it mean? 1. Early Americans identified strongly with the Jews and Hebrew Bible—not just the New Testament. o Jefferson wanted the U.S. seal to show Jews leaving Egypt. o Hebrew was compulsory at Harvard until 1787. Yale adopted a Hebrew insignia. o “Proclaim Liberty throu

By Steve Levin Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3/28/2004 Rt. Rev. N. T. Wright, Bishop of Durham (Church of England), believes the crisis over gay ordination is linked to American unilateralism: “America has been screwing the world into the socket” for years—on land mines, debt, environment, trade… yet acts alone on Iraq—or on changing church law. “So why should the world listen to [Episcopalians] when changing Episcopal Church law? It is bound to be perceived as, ‘There you go again

By Todd H. Wetzel One week ago, I challenged ECUSA’s House of Bishops to commit to a plan for Adequate Episcopal Oversight showing compassion for those who disagreed with GC 2003. Their March 24 procedure is seriously flawed. It grants sole decision-making power to the diocesan bishop—not to the aggrieved. That, by definition, is not adequate oversight. The Archbishop of Canterbury made clear: the aggrieved party has the right to determine what constitutes adequate oversight—

By Lee Buck “Do it our way or get out!” David Virtue recently published an article concerning Walter Righter—the thrice-married bishop who left his first wife for his secretary—saying: “How can the Bishops ‘allow’ what the canons and constitution do not allow? How can the Bishops ‘cede control’ that is not theirs to cede? Even if they wanted to, they cannot.” Here is a bishop who blatantly and arrogantly violated the canons and constitution—yet in his mind, how you violate th

By Robert Seitz To witness the descent of the ECUSA mindset to the parish level is a painful experience. The divisiveness that at first was distantly abstract quickly became up close and personal. Suddenly one finds that the parish is composed of “them” and “us”—and one of the two is no longer welcome. This occurred recently at Grace Episcopal Church in Tampa, Florida—a relatively small parish (≈300 communicants), proud of its family atmosphere and friendliness, and proud to

News Analysis By David W. Virtue PITTSBURGH, PA — (3/30/2004) The former Bishop of Iowa, Walter Righter—who publicly condemned five dissenting retired bishops for participating in a confirmation service in the Diocese of Ohio, saying they should leave the Episcopal Church—has been performing sacramentally, without permission or a license, in the orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh under Bishop Robert Duncan. The revisionist bishop—who walked away from charges that he violated the

Five orthodox churches in the Diocese are gathering for prayer and a show of solidarity on Friday, April 2, 2004, at 7 p.m. They are at odds with their bishop, J. Michael Garrison, and many of them are wondering how they should proceed. Withholding funds might just be not enough for some of them. The bishop has threatened five parishes with ecclesiastical action if they don’t come into line. We await the outcome. THE VIA MEDIA GROUPS MET IN ATLANTA THIS WEEK And emerged plead

The American Anglican Council says it knows. Here is what they say really happened at the HoB meeting in Navasota, Texas: “The House of Bishops meeting was tightly controlled and ‘process oriented.’ The Presiding Bishop stated in his opening address that V. Gene Robinson has borne all the pain over the last several months. The House neither acknowledged nor dealt with the severe level of crisis in the church. The Presiding Bishop’s mantra continues to be, ‘More unites us than