Archbishop Peter Akinola, the infamous anti-Gay bigot and schismatic Anglican, is coming to the Chicago area later this month to celebrate the Eucharist with five local breakaway churches which are part of the Anglican Mission in America. He will be greeted by a picket line in protest of his ongoing campaign of intimidation and violence against LGBT Africans...Some of us have attempted for many years to point out to other Anglicans how dangerous this man is, but for some reason, primarily apathy, I suspect, our concerns have been either ignored or dismissed. Apparently, words are not enough. It is time for action.
...Akinola will appear at the chapel of fundamentalist Wheaton College at 10:30 a.m. The chapel is located at the corner of Washington and Franklin Streets in Wheaton, Illinois, about 30 miles west of downtown Chicago.
The demonstration will be peaceful and will not disrupt the church service. It is aimed not only at the archbishop but at his American enablers, former Episcopalians with a particular antipathy for Gay people who are splitting the Church to keep Gay people out.
Gay and Straight Episcopalians will gather at 8 a.m. for Mass at St. James’s Cathedral, 65 E. Huron St., Chicago, then drive to Wheaton for the demonstration, which will last one hour, from 10-11 a.m. Protesters will march in procession on the sidewalk opposite the Wheaton College Chapel and will not interfere with those attending the church service.
The demonstration is co-sponsored by dailyoffice.org, a prayer website serving the Episcopal Church, and the Gay Liberation Network of Chicago...
Why is it important that we act out our disapproval of Abp. Akinola? What has he done that is so reprehensible? Let me offer you a partial list:
1. He has regularly engaged in hate speech against gays and lesbians.
2. He has advocated for, and openly encouraged the government of Nigeria to incarcerate all GLBT citizens and their supporters.
3. He has refused to engage in the listening process as described in the documents of Lambeth 1998, The Windsor Report and the Primates' Meeting of 2005. Instead, he and his House of Bishops have issued a most heinous rebuke of a minority group placed under their pastoral care.
4. He has attempted to pillage parishes in the United States, even though the Windsor Report specifically condemned such actions, and our Presiding Bishop and the Archbishop of Canterbury have pleaded with him to cease his illegal and immoral acts.
5. His words were responsible for inciting Christians to engage in violent retaliation against Muslims in February of 2006.
6. In his attempt to silence Changing Attitude Nigeria, an advocacy group for GLBT Nigerians, members were beaten and jailed. This was followed by a failed attempt at character assasination launched against Davis Mac-Iyalla, the leader of Changing Attitude Nigeria. Davis has since received numerous death threats.
This list could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
Archbishop Akinola champions hatred, bigotry and intimidation in the name of God. He is a threat to the spiritual and physical well being of all GLBT Nigerians. He will be in our own backyard later this month. Words are no longer enough. It is time we take action.
Sunday, September 23, 8:00 am at St. James Cathedral, Chicago. Be there.
J.
(Terry Martin)
No comments:
Post a Comment