tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post6149573616881463404..comments2024-03-28T22:29:52.666+13:00Comments on Anglican Down Under: Should the church(es) be involved in political statement making?Peter Carrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-77668760866425051992014-08-29T12:07:54.703+12:002014-08-29T12:07:54.703+12:00Another comment on this thread - from today's ...Another comment on this thread - from today's Collect, for the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist<br /><br />"Just and merciful God, you called John the Baptist to witness to your commands, even at the cost of his life; give us courage to contend for justice and to speak for the oppressed, to the end; through Jesus Christ, our redeemer. AMEN."Father Ron Smithhttp://kiwianglo.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-19513780885369903052014-08-28T13:59:03.196+12:002014-08-28T13:59:03.196+12:00Re: the blog ... You make some good points, but th...Re: the blog ... You make some good points, but those good points could also be applied to a lot of Jesus' statements, and they're still Jesus' statements.Calebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13619381698748105116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-16316066158566015402014-08-28T13:58:25.565+12:002014-08-28T13:58:25.565+12:00It's not. It's about the fallacy of assumi...It's not. It's about the fallacy of assuming the centre of the Overton Window at the moment (in whatever context you find yourself) is always most likely to be true... total capitulation to context.Calebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13619381698748105116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-30378507587471302862014-08-28T07:40:05.031+12:002014-08-28T07:40:05.031+12:00I keep wondering Jean whether the 'centre'...I keep wondering Jean whether the 'centre' politically is about a path between left and right, or a path involving (the best of) left and right!Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-88853815092043172782014-08-28T07:06:54.123+12:002014-08-28T07:06:54.123+12:00Hi Ron
Huh, I never considered eyesight....
You...Hi Ron<br /><br />Huh, I never considered eyesight.... <br /><br />You will no doubt know about clergy and the average wage. Reminds me of when a cousin, with wide eyes said to mum, so your'e a Priest now? Is that because it pays well : ) ,,, When she said she wasn't paid (then non stipended) he was most perplexeed about why you would do such a vocation!!<br /><br />Eric perhaps in terms of theology but not politically in NZ anyway, should say there is a fair mix of the political left and right in NZ but like the major parties here most are centric, right Peter! : ) ?Jeannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-39442259063477900522014-08-27T22:30:09.327+12:002014-08-27T22:30:09.327+12:00Usually it's the Left complaining about what C...Usually it's the Left complaining about what Christians have to say.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12877233988690775922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-66833003978431669542014-08-27T20:29:18.137+12:002014-08-27T20:29:18.137+12:00My grandfather was a working class bus driver in L...My grandfather was a working class bus driver in Leicester (not far from Ron's home). He was sometimes heard to complain at times about bishops 'living like little lords in their palaces'; this was a real stumbling block to him taking the Chrurch of England seriously. He was not irreligious but he never went near a church.<br /><br />So I'm inclined to agree with Ron. <br /><br />Sanctimonious meddling priests? Is it sanctimonious to observe that there is vast wage inequality in the world? Seems to me the prophets of Israel made similar observations.<br /><br />TimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-60083324514038017912014-08-27T17:10:38.493+12:002014-08-27T17:10:38.493+12:00From a casual look, it seems to be addressed only ...From a casual look, it seems to be addressed only to those who have better than average eye-sight - certainly not to vehicle drivers, 'en passant'.<br /><br />The real problem would be if clergy were earning more than an average wage.Father Ron Smithhttp://kiwianglo.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-4900506430502302902014-08-27T16:43:06.885+12:002014-08-27T16:43:06.885+12:00Well its a little obscure, and the source of origi...Well its a little obscure, and the source of origin should be more obvious, I would say it probably is supporting a campaign for increasing the minimum wage?<br /><br />Yes, for churches voices on social issues. Good example recent event in Wellington Cathedral re child poverty attended by 1000 people. Another one the Aussie church taking a stand on the treatment of unaccompanied refugee children in holding centres. No to alignment with a specific political party.<br /><br />No to bloggers or government or anyone using such statements as making churches pay tax in order to bully them into not speaking out on topics that make them uncomfortable. Control by threats is the path of cowards.<br /><br />As far as I am aware churches receive similar tax advantages as NGO's simply because they are not for profit. Doesn't this make sense? <br /><br />Churches or church organisations have already taken over many government contracts to provide social services, and this excludes direct church based community welfare initiatives. <br /><br />As for wealthy churches (money tied up in properties with buildings below earthquake standards) - yeah right. The volunteers lining up to pay to bring them up to standard and fork out the insurance bills so the are seen queing all over the country.<br /> Jeannoreply@blogger.com