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Dear William,
had the pleasure of meeting you when you were working on the death and dying prog. Heard your Thought for the Day on Radio 2 very early this am re importance of clarity in making messages meaningful,and where you cited MLK as model example.
Just wondering if you heard the News Quiz (R4) yesterday or Friday. Jeramy Harding was making a similar point, albeit more satirically, on the paupacy of the messages coming from the american democratic canditates (including BA) and how far from MLK - it struck a cord with your piece and can be caught on listen again. Sorry -can't spell for toffee,and no spell check.
Cheers, sally

Hi Sally. Thanks for getting in touch. I do remember you, of course. In fact, I'd recorded that radio piece for Radio 2 last week, and haven't heard Jeremy Harding's comment (but I'm a fan of his and of the News Quiz).

What is the Church of England coming to or what type of message are they preaching to the lost amidst the moral and theological confusion that has swept across Britain in these the last days, the misguided senior clerics of the Church of England are multiplying the already confused message that the populace of Britain are receiving from a theological confused church.

One of these senior clerics in the C.O.E. has made ungodly inferences about the life of David and his brotherly relationship with Jonathon, and he also makes the same inference against the walk and character of our Lord Jesus Christ the Bishop in question shows his ignorance when it comes to the interpretation of Holy Writ, if he wants some sound theology I would implore upon him to search out the theological works of his first predecessor, Bishop J. C. Ryle, a theological giant standing amidst the theological pygmies of this sad generation that have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality.

Let the Christians of Britain arise in the love of God as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to blow the shofar to the nation sounding the fate that awaits the fallen angels and apostates let us pray earnestly and to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints against the men that have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The writing is on the wall for the Church of England when the same church start to think as the world thinks, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and UPHARSIN.

Pardon me, Sally and William, for interupting your little love-in.

I used to think that anglican bishops were just confused and weak - now I realise they are completely stupid as well. I feel like Fr Ted explaining perspective to Fr Dougal. But here goes - friendship, good, in fact very good. Homosexual acts, bad, in fact very bad. In a different age this "bishop" would be up before a canonical and criminal court for blasphemy.

Smasher, calm yourself now. Sally is just being nice. Now to your substantive point. Do you regret the fact that the bishop will not be tried for heresy? Is a heresy court something you woul like to create today to stop the free expression of alternative views?

I wouldn't encourage heresy courts as that would only encourage these guys. Look here's the thing - you can have free expression, and everyone is entitled to that - but of course there are limits - there's no shouting fire in a crowded theatre, there's actual incitement to hatred, there's slander, and there's the limitations of your job. If you work for Man Utd you promote Man Utd, not Liverpool. If you profess that you are a member of a Church then you should believe and profess what the Church believes. The standard approach of these guys, and its the same in Catholic Church, is to say they are free to discuss things that aren't "settled dogma" and this then includes everything they personally don't believe. So no courts - just a letter saying: "Dear Bishop/Father/Ms Theologan X - on such a date you stated that: there is nothing to prevent ordination of women/Jesus didn't really rise/homosexual acts are the same as marriage - delete as applicable. Please find enclosed a copy of the Catechism which I have marked for ease of reference. Please recant by such a date or forward your resignation, Yours in Christ, the Zelator.

In the case of this bishop he may just need someone to point out the obvious difference between Jesus Christ and Quentin Crisp.

You seem like a real charmer Smasher! that was a lovely little comment that began post 3. I don't agree with everything Will says and I have had enough posts modded but this is Will's blog and he can do what he likes with it.

"the obvious difference between Jesus Christ and Quentin Crisp."

None, both never married and both were close to their mothers.

Anyway the Catholic Church has been giving useful employment to homosexuals for years!

Smasher, you must be fun to be around. Good grief, man. Let me tell you that not everyone shares your rabid sense of dogmatism in matters of faith and theology; it seems sensible to suggest that not everything may have been worked out by the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of years ago, wouldn't you say? I'm glad you have such faith in the fallible minds under the crushing pressure of immovable religious tradition who have decided for you what to think and believe. Others believe in their own rational faculties enough to at least attempt that for themselves, thank you.

Anyway, join the love-in, won't you? PB did.

a dissapointing essay by the bishop.

it just gets interesting when he raises the question about whether there is actually any evidence in the text that David and Jonathan had a sexual relationship, but then he ducks the question.

ah well, never let the evidence get in the way of a good fairytale.

;-)