The Church of Nigeria's press release signed by the Rev. Canon AkinTunde Popoola contains the following statement:

"We have even seen a situation where a supposed knight collects money to organise homosexual meetings that only take place on sponsored news reports."

It is clear who is referred to and it is a defamatory statement. It is all the more defamatory because the reference is put in the context of "activities of some fraudulent personalities who exploit Christian love and the good name of the Church all in a bid to defraud unsuspecting people especially foreigners of money."

This defamatory statement has now been published in full (i.e. not as fair comment) by the Anglican Communion Official Website / Anglican Communion News Service in England as well as elsewhere. Their homepage attributes the site to the Anglican Communion Office and copyrights it the Anglican Consultative Council.

If the defamatory statement is true, that will be a complete defence to a defamation lawsuit. The burden of proving is would be on the person who made or published the statement.

If Changing Attitude Nigeria would prefer to pursue their proposed defamation proceedings in English Courts rather than in Nigerian Courts, they can do so. Caselaw shows that internet publication is sufficient for English defamation proceedings, and overseas parties may be joined to such proceedings: see e.g. Don King v Lennox Lewis [2004] EWCA Civ 1329.

Last year Akinola and his people compared gays/lesbians/bisexuals to dogs and equated same-sex affections with bestiality.

Now after challenging CA to have their "gay lawyer" address their libelous statements, over ACNS they equate CA-Nigeria to fraudulent email solicitations and in the same breath press for the love of Christ.

Their hypocrisy has never been more apparent.

Popoola and Nigerian church officials have apparently used their positions to send over ACNS as authoritative, their defamations of Davis Mac-Iyalla and CA-Nigeria.

I have sent them information regarding this issue so that they can look into this and to alert them that they may be being used by Popoola.

I certainly urge the Rev. Coward to contact them to make them aware that what has gone out over ACNS as dispositive is nothing of the sort.

But, again, why do you expect any better? This is all about the homophobic agenda of that Church - irrespective of the circumstances.

I don'tthink it would make any difference at all whether this story is actually true or not.Its not about truth or lies - its purely about the inability of the Nigerian church to do any serious listening.

The Daily Independant reports: 'Meanwhile, the Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Peter Akinola, has called for an end to all false claims of piety in the country.

This may be on the wrong side of the dividing line between irony and self-spoofing.

Rev. Canon Popoola's heroic place in history is as good as confirmed - dictionaries are already being amended:

http://frontparlour.blogspot.com/2006/01/popoolism-definition.html

It's interesting to see that it's a totally different story in the Church of England Newspaper...

The Nigerian newpapers treat the CofN bull with greater care, if not caution.

Perhaps it would be worthwhile to know more about how AB Akinola and the CofN are regarded in Nigeria...

Goran makes an interesting point.

The CEN coverage shows how journalism has changed since I was a hack. I would never have got away with reprinting unproven allegations such as these.

Still, this published story may be useful in the end whichever way it turns.

The publication of the Egyptian letter to Rowan was a disaster for Nigerian PR, this story seems unlikely to be one that might help restore their credibility. It is the oldest trick in the book – attacking the messenger when you don’t like the message – but it has a habit of backfiring.

But the situation is not simple, as many who would support the broad thrust of the GS agenda are far from happy with Peter Akinola’s frequent wilder excesses and the influence a few Americans and Peter Jensen seem to have achieved in the GS organization.

It would do their cause no harm at all to see yet another PR disaster overtake Nigeria and so weaken their hold on the leadership. There are many who feel they have wiser heads who would like the opportunity to steer this ship differently.

I just love yummy self-referential posts! Mmmmmmm. {:-)

"Rev. Canon Popoola's heroic place in history is as good as confirmed - dictionaries are already being amended:

"http://frontparlour.blogspot.com/2006/01/popoolism-definition.html

"Posted by: Augustus Meriwether on Thursday, 5 January 2006 at 4:08am GMT"

I followed the link to the church in Chadderton, what a beautiful church you have!

"I followed the link to the church in Chadderton, what a beautiful church you have!

"Posted by: RMF on Thursday, 5 January 2006 at 4:25pm GMT"

We like it too. Thanks.

All welcome.

I think Goran's point is very interesting too. I wonder, in ordinary Nigerians' minds, how these two things compare in terms of bringing the Church into disrepute: church acceptance and support of gay people in a civilised and compassionate way; or church oppression, denial, slander of gay people who simply want recognition and equal rights.

As a nation used to dictatorship and oppression and injustice, I imagine they are also used to keeping their heads down and allowing those in authority to call the shots no matter how injust and corrupt they might be.

I suspect, at heart, they might be a bit sick of such tyranny, whatever form it comes in, and eventually get used to saying, 'no, actually, you are behaving badly - I don't want you to lead me down this path anymore; it doesn't seem to be the path of Christ'.

John Simmons, for your (and others') information:

It is commonly accepted in blog netiquette to link to your own blog (or anywhere) on other bloggers' comments boards, as long as the link is RELEVANT to that thread topic.

It is poor netiquette to post comments that are not relevant an add nothing to the thread discussion itself and are focussed on correcting or criticising methods or persons in ways that are UNRELATED to the topic. That is best done (if at all) in private correspondance (email). You are welcome to send me private email and be as rude as you like.

Also, sarcasm is bad etiquette and poor wit in real life.

If Simon, who is our gracious host, decided he did not want relevant links to commentors' blogs on his comment boards, I'm sure he would be polite enough to ask that I cease to link in such a way PRIVATELY, by email.

Augustus,

Good points. It doesn't hurt at all to review principles of good netiquette on occasion here at TA :)

Now, perhaps a reminder of why flaming and trolling are bad behavior would be in order before the next breakout of same...

Slightly OT, but I just wanted to note---with thanksgiving to God---that tonight (at an ECUSA parish) I met a lesbian Anglican . . .

. . . visiting from *Uganda* (y'know: a country from the continent where such things don't exist ;-p)

Oh they do exist JCF; but homosexuality is seen in a negative light. Haven't you heard of the Uganda martyrs ?

O, yes indeed...

Actually, Augustus Meriwether had a couple of posts on that one a while ago.

Maybe, you should read them, dear Dave?

The Ugandan martyrs were killed by a monarch who was a ***rapist****, Dave (just like the Sodomites of Genesis). What possible relevance does this have to this Ugandan lesbian (who, like the martyrs---and unlike the murderous king---is also an Anglican)? This "reductio ad homo" comparison is ridiculous.

I suggest that you read Augustus Meriwether's piece on the Ugandan Martyrs (not all were Anglicans).

http://frontparlour.blogspot.com/2005/11/ugandan-martyrdom.html#links

I stand corrected, Goran (though I think my larger point, to Dave, still holds).