If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
Desmond Tutu
If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you squash the mouse in order to make the elephant happy, you are more evil than the elephant. And you’re doubly evil if you kill the mouse in order to protect the elephant’s reputation.
Anglican Watch
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Recently, we have received several requests/demands from third parties to censor content, with one even threatening to retaliate against innocent third parties if we pursue certain topics.
To be clear, this is unacceptable and un-Christian.
While we strive to respect victims of abuse and to recognize the real-world consequences of our coverage, the Bible is clear: As Christians, we are called to being light to the darkness. Indeed, abusers often rely on silence and fear to perpetrate their abuse.
Moreover, the approach of “well, it’s not our problem, and we don’t want to get involved,” doesn’t cut it. The Bible also addresses this issue, saying that light and darkness cannot co-exist. (Platonic dualism, anyone?)
Far too often, we see Christians who want to cover up wrongdoing, pretend it doesn’t exist, or proclaim, “That happened before I got here, so there is nothing I can do to fix it.” Those are not Christian perspectives, and they were not views held by Jesus.
After all, the Scribes, Pharisees, and other so-called “whitewashed tombs” and “broods of vipers” had been at it long before Jesus arrived on the scene.
Nor does it do young people any favors to try to shield them from these issues. Yes, there are specific topics that are age-appropriate, including details of sexual and marital abuse. Still, at the same time, a holistic worldview requires that children understand that evil is all too common, especially in faith organizations.
Even more important, children need to understand that they can make a difference. By naming evil, we can hold it up to the light and insist on accountability. In certain cases, including boundary violations and abuse, children can and must speak up, while adults must speak out due to mandatory reporting statutes.
Children also need to learn that certain things are wrong. Bullying others is wrong. Lying is wrong. Engaging in criminal conduct is wrong.
And when organizations worry first about their reputations and not about the people they claim to serve, that is wrong, and the organizations fail. Misplaced priorities of this sort are causing the Episcopal Church to falter and die. And these mistakes are undercutting other organizations. Indeed, there is no fact pattern under which organizations that engage in this conduct survive over time.
As for censorship itself, that belongs to totalitarian regimes. Indeed, the great-grandfather of one of our staff was a noted Baptist minister, head of the Baptist mission to the Balkans, who went to his death for his refusal to stop criticizing Hitler. Realistically, his opposition may have made little difference, but he died with a clear conscience. And, of course, if others had followed a similar path, Hitler might never have come to power in the first place.
Anglican Watch remains dedicated to a free, pluralistic society in which all ideas can be freely exchanged. Petty tyrants who seek a different approach should not operate under any illusions about their power to impose censorship on us. Didn’t work for crooked Episcopal attorney Jeffery Chiow or perjuring priest Bob Malm; not bloody likely to work for anyone else.
Moreover, free speech is a fundamental component of democracy, including the right not to speak. We are reminded of this when we look at the early Christian martyrs; many had only to acknowledge the Roman emperor as a God in order to live, yet willingly refused to do so in order to uphold their beliefs. And Jews may recall the zealots of Masada, who preferred to die as free people, versus as slaves to the Romans.
Lastly, we reiterate: Anyone who uses children as pawns in any situation neither follows Christ, nor is a Christian. Indeed, that person or organization is per se abusive. The welfare of children should not be used to further personal goals or to engage in organizational impression management.
The Episcopal Church often ignores the critical thinking from the age of enlightenment that inspired the protestant reformation.
In the Episcopal Church, rectors and bishops are often viewed as being infallible, and they see themselves styled as perpetual spiritual parents of their parishioners.
Rectors are often afraid of their bishops – because the bishop can suspend a clergy member at their whim.
And associate clergy are often afraid of their rectors, because they serve solely at the pleasure of the rector.
Church staff, who are often paid close to minimum wage don’t dare to speak up, lest they be terminated for speaking the truth.
The episcopacy needs another reformation. Bishops and rectors need to use their power, to advocate for change and to share their power with other pastors and laity within the church.
These clergy and bishops claim that they support democracy in other countries around the world, yet within their church, they reign with almost absolute power. If a vestry member disagrees with the rector – they are openly shamed for disagreeing with the pastor.
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.”
We agree. Far too many bishops claim they have limited power, but when the issue is important to them, they invariably get their way.
Similarly, the church is hierarchical when it comes to property, but it is congregational in polity when a priest behaves badly. Indeed, Todd Ousley has said in writing that the office of PB has no jurisdiction if a bishop refuses to comply with the provisions of Title IV.
If the church wishes to survive, it must stop the shape-shifting and narcissistic games.
Integrity matters.
The Episcopal church has been nothing but a leech on its congregants from the very beginning. Hell most of these Anglicans were loyalist anyways. Most people dont remember all the legal battles the Church of England especially in the state of Virginia in the late 18th century. Imagine being so ignorant of why everyone left when you have a retention rate close to zero! Who cares about Rowe? The Episcopal church still decided to keep the toll at 15% for bishop slush fund even as congregations close everywhere around them. They also made sure there were golden parachute packages for the rapidly aging priest. The same people that ran the church into the ground. Its like giving circuit city executives bonuses. I dont even want to insult circuit city. At least they weren’t a real estate/ scam on the elderly. Nor did they constantly virtue signal how LBTQIA2S+ loving they are despite what the foundational text say. Literally the most pointless country club that wants to pretend they are righteous. Even Jesus said those who pray in public have already received their reward. May this church forever be remembered as a hollow, cruel, and evil place. Run by champagne socialist who are far more worried about rituals then they are about justice or feeding people.
Lucinda Ashby and El Camino Real have taken things to new lows. They say they can’t discuss the presence of a sex offender in the Diocese because it’s, well, a sensitive topic.
Onward Christian Soldiers!