Danforth warns Episcoplians on gay issues

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=7545

John Danforth, an Episcopal priest and former U.S. senator, warned Thursday that the church risked irrelevancy by focusing on divisive issues such as gay clergy and same-gender couples.

Instead, Danforth said the denomination should turn away from the "inside baseball" of church politics and put its energy behind reconciling a world increasingly polarized by politics and religion.

"For 99 percent-plus of people, they really couldn't care less who the bishop of diocese 'X' or 'Z' is," Danforth said, during the church's national legislative meeting. "Nor could they care less whether a liturgy for blessing same-sex unions is available in a prayer book or over the Internet."

If the Episcopal Church breaks apart, "we'll be one more little splinter, one more tiny wedge in the world of wedges," he warned.

we need more people like him-even if he is a Republican

Consider this: the main achievement of Senator Danforth's career was being the driving force behind the confirmation of Clarence Thomas. :puke:

A friend of mine was the daughter of a priest at the same parish as Danforth before he went into politics. She recalls that, while her family and those of the other staffers at that parish drove ordinary cars, VW buses, etc., Danforth woudl show up in his Rolls Royce. :eyes: Even his own kids were embarassed at the ostentation -- they tried to bum rides with the other families instead.

But he was definitely better than Talent or Bond. They really suck so it doesn't take much to surpass them.

He's right, from a united church view. It is an African majority church now. We risk the US church being torn apart due to gay bishops and marriage more than anything -- the African bishops can't stand the thought.
But then again, the Anglicans have a major undertaking underway:
"Our Church has AIDS." That is what most Anglicans care about.
The only people who will win will be the lawyers when a parish wants to seceed from the national church and the bishop opposes that and the lawsuits ensue.

I didn't like Danforth as a Senator, however he was much better that Bond or Talent, no doubt, It was a different world back then and hard I think to compare. He has been speaking out about the mix of religion and politics and seems sincere. Although he is favoring stem cell research from what I understand I believe that has alot to do with profit motive for Washington University and Monsanto which would benefit from the dollars involved. Nevertheless he is a voice of some reason and hopefully will be listened to by some in the Republican Party. At least he is speaking out on issues and doing so in a respectful method. Agree or not agree with him or his past, he brings more to the debate than the shrill shills we see constantly on T.V. and hear on radio these days.