Liberal Christian denominations putting themselves out of business, warns Times columnist
CWN – July 16, 2012
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat argues that by adapting themselves to the liberal secular culture, liberal Christian denominations have been making themselves irrelevant, since if you’re looking for secular liberalism you don’t need to go to church to find it. As a result, Douthat notes, the liberal denominations are hemorrhaging members, and may cease to exist.
Exhibit A for Douthat’s argument is the Episcopal Chuch. The columnist observes that Episcopalianism today “looks roughly how Roman Catholicism would look if Pope Benedict XVI suddenly adopted every reform ever urged on the Vatican by liberal pundits and theologians.” The church buildings, vestments, and rituals are familiar, but the denomination is “flexible to the point of indifference on dogma,” and those who are interested in faith look elsewhere.
Additional sources for this story: Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved? (New York Times) www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/opinion/sunday/douthat-can-liberal-christianity-be-saved.html?_r=2
Episcopal Church approves transgender ordinations, blessing of same-sex relationships
CWN – July 10, 2012
By a 111-41 vote, the bishops of the Episcopal Church USA have voted to approve a rite for the blessing of homosexual relationships.
Some Episcopal Church leaders spoke out against the measure.
“It is reasonable to believe that vowed fidelity that is exclusive and lifelong to one other person is predicated on sexual difference,” said Bishop John Bauerschmidt of Tennessee. “This liturgy that is proposed does not have the basis in Scripture, tradition or reason for us to authorize its use.”
“The Christian world will look at that liturgy … and see vows, and exchange of rings, a pronouncement and a blessing and they will understand that to mean the Episcopal Church has endorsed same-sex marriage and changed a basic Christian doctrine,” added Bishop Edward Little of Northern Indiana. “I do not believe that we are free to do that.”
With 189 out of 221 delegates approving, the Episcopal Church’s House of Deputies also voted to make clear that transgendered individuals are candidates for ordination.
“The trans community has stood and fought for the rest of the LGBTQ community time and time again, and I would not be living out my baptismal covenant if I did not do the same for them now,” said Natalie Vanatta of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
Additional sources for this story: See www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=14869
I don’t recall if this was posted on AQ, but a new study shows why atheists and liberals are a dying breed, from an evolutionary standpoint.
www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version