[Oe List ...] Thank you Bishop (and Ellie)!

[John Cock]

"A Manifesto: The Time Has Come!" (condensed)

 

I will no longer seek to slow down the witness to inclusiveness by
pretending that there is some middle ground between prejudice and
oppression.. Church unity can never be a virtue that is preserved by
allowing injustice, oppression and psychological tyranny to go
unchallenged.. I see no way that ignorance and truth can be placed side by
side, nor do I believe that evil is somehow less evil if the Bible is quoted
to justify it.. I make these statements because it is time to move on. The
battle is over. The victory has been won.. The battle in both our culture
and our church to rid our souls of this dying prejudice is finished. A new
consciousness has arisen.. I do not tolerate racism or sexism any longer.
>From this moment on, I will no longer tolerate our culture's various forms
of homophobia.. Indeed I feel the Christian Church should not only
apologize, but do public penance for the way we have treated people of
color, women, adherents of other religions and those we designated heretics,
as well as gay and lesbian people.. I am unwilling to argue about it or to
discuss it as if there are two equally valid, competing positions any
longer. The day for that mentality has simply gone forever. This is my
manifesto. ~Bishop Spong, weekly newsletter, 10/15/09, via Ellie Stock


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