What will the Anglican Church of Canada do if polyamorists have their way?

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Canada’s polyamorists are seeking legal recognition of their unions. Now that “marriage” has been redefined in Canada to include same-sex couples, why should it not be further redefined to include more than two people? I can’t think of a convincing reason.

And since many dioceses in the Anglican Church of Canada are eager to bless “committed same gender relationships” why should they not also bless committed multiple person relationships, particularly if they attain the same legal status as married same-sex couples. I can’t think of a convincing reason. If there is nothing sacrosanct about man-woman marriage, then there is certainly nothing sacrosanct about the number “two.”

From here:

While Canada’s polyamorists — people with multiple partners outside a religious context — do not face criminalization as do polygamists, it is not enough for them to be considered “just not illegal,” they said on Sunday.

As the Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association wrapped up its three-day convention, the first of it’s kind to be held in Canada, the association’s director and conference chair Zoe Duff said polyamorists hope to one day gain the same legal recognition as other couples.

“It would be nice…to have households where our spouses are equal under the law, and moving forward in terms of pensions, and inheritances and property division,” she said.

Unlike polygamy, there is no law in Canada that specifically bans polyamory. Polyamorists also distinguish themselves from polygamists, saying that while polygamy consists of men taking multiple wives usually within a religious context, polyamory is consensual, secular and egalitarian.

The budgetary woes of St. John’s Shaughnessy

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In 2013, St. John’s Shaughnessy is anticipating an income of $151,000. Operating expenses will be $445,000 and a replacement roof will cost $213,000, leaving a deficit of $507,000.

To cover its financial embarrassment, St. John’s is asking the Diocese of New Westminster for a number of restricted funds to be made unrestricted.

That’s what happens when a large, conservative, congregation that emphasises the Gospel is evicted to make room for a small, liberal one that emphasises social justice.

SJS money

Female Anglican priest poses topless for wallpaper

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St Michael’s and all Angels Anglican Church in Smethcote “sits on a hill with magnificent views”.

One of the more unusual magnificent views that the parishioners have enjoyed recently is the sight of their 65 year old priest, Rev. Caroline Wright, appearing topless on wallpaper which sells for £100 per roll. No mention is made of whether the paper is embossed.

Lest anyone rashly jump to the conclusion that the exposed reverend was motivated by mere exhibitionism, she is quick to point out that the unrobing, along with 250 other women, was in aid of the “breast awareness charity Coppafeel.” Apparently, “it was really powerful and great fun.”

In all fairness to the topless reverend, the flashing was in a good cause: raising money for breast cancer treatment. Anyone interested in ordering a few rolls can find them at boobwallpaper.com.

One can only hope that male priests don’t start getting similar ideas about “raising awareness” of testicular cancer.

From here:

A female priest has spoken of how she had no hesitation at all before stripping off and posing topless for a charity wallpaper.

Reverend Caroline Wright, an associate priest at St Michael’s Church in Smethcote, Shropshire, was among 250 women who agreed to take part in the photoshoot to raise money for breast awareness charity Coppafeel.

The 65-year-old, who conducts weddings and funerals and plays the organ at the rural 12th century church, said the topless photo shoot by local artist Sam Powley was ‘great fun’.

Reverend Wright, who is a grandmother of 12, who has been ordained for four years, said she had no hesitation in taking part in the project – but she is not revealing where she is on the wallpaper.

A monumental tribute to unbelief

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From here:

On June 29, the group American Atheists will unveil a 1,500-pound granite bench engraved with secular-themed quotations from Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and its founder, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, among others, in front of the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, Fla.

One of the risibly fatuous inscriptions in this slab of nihilism is by Madalyn Murray O’Hair:

An atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty banished, war eliminated.

Atheists rarely tire of telling us that they don’t need to believe in anything since reason has supplanted belief. And since, as Dawkins tells us, our genes are selfish, as long as Ms O’Hair lived close to a hospital she would have had little reason for building any more. And why does an atheist believe poverty should be banished so long as he is rich; or wars eliminated so long as they are elsewhere?

It would appear that Ms. O’Hair adhered – rather dishonestly, since it borrows so many of its ethical presuppositions from Christianity – to the religion of Humanism.

Parents demand tolerance training for school that didn’t allow boy to wear makeup

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The parents of the boy couldn’t understand the prohibition since girls attending the school use the same makeup.

I’m sure the fact that the boy’s parents are both women has no bearing whatsoever on his decision to wear makeup. None at all.

From here:

The parents of a Tampa Bay student have started an online petition asking for improved tolerance training after their son was castigated for wearing makeup on the last day of school.

The Tampa Bay Times reports Chris Martin decided to wear black eyeliner, eye shadow and lipstick on the last day of eighth grade at Meadowlawn Middle School in St. Petersburg.

Administrators told the 14-year-old boy he was violating the dress code.

Bishop Sue Moxley to retire

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moxleyIn what appears to be an epidemic of resigning bishops, first Michael Ingham announced his retirement, then James Cowan and now Sue Moxley, bishop of the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

These three bishops have all presided over the instigation of same-sex blessings in their respective dioceses and now, having accomplished their mission and set the cat among the pigeons, are bidding us adieu and leaving their successors to cope with the fallout.

From here:

Bishop Susan “Sue” Moxley, known to many Anglicans in Canada and overseas for her passion for social justice and church renewal, has announced she will retire in March 2014.

By then, Moxley will have served in an episcopal role for 10 years—three years as suffragan (assistant) bishop and seven as diocesan bishop for the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. She also will have served as an active priest in the Anglican Church of Canada for 29 years. In 2007 Moxley, then 61, made history by becoming the first female bishop elected in her diocese, and the second female bishop to lead a diocese across the Canadian Anglican church.