Updated Monday
Dan Damon interviewed the Archbishop of Canterbury about his recent visits to Africa.
The Sunday programme on Radio 4 carried an excerpt, listen here. Duration about 5 minutes.
The World Service programme Reporting Religion has much more. The programme page is here, duration about 26 minutes. This page will contain the right link for only one week.
Update: a transcript is now available from Lambeth Palace.
My only comment about the World Service interview was that when it came to the Millennium Development Goals it was all about people, and poverty, and dignity, plus looking into slavery was about removing dignity, but when it came to the homosexuality issue it was about Churches moving too quickly and some African Churches wanting a clear sexual ethic in the context of chaotic sexual behaviour and disease. The imbalance of focus was obvious, and when it was not about the Church the missing comment was that the clear sexual ethic had little to nothing to do with the chaos… Read more »
I am struck by contrasts also. In this interview, for domestic British consumption via the BBC, the Archbishop of Canterbury wears his moderate, eirenic face. We must not foreclose debate, we must listen to one another, due process must be observed, oh dear, bigotry does make me shudder too. To my church, the Episcopal Church, he wears a quite difference face. He is our superior, speaking to inferiors who have dared to rebel against those who have the right of command. The Archbishop speaks to us of “unconditional submission” to the “demands” of the Primates and to Lambeth 1.10 as… Read more »
Charlotte
The BBC World Service is specifically NOT designed for domestic consumption. Indeed it is not financed by the same method as the BBC domestic services (an annual license fee on households with a TV receiver on the premises).
The Dan Damon interview was conducted for the World Service. The Sunday programme simply borrowed material from it.
Charlotte, it’s long since been time to throw the tea in the harbor again.
Simon, thank you for correcting me on this important point.
I hope the implication is that we may consider the Archbishop’s peace-making words as addressed also to the Episcopal Church.
More timidity from the Archbishop here. He draws back from his earlier (November 2005) astonishing requirement for “an overwhelming consensus” before change in Anglican attitudes to homosexual practice could be permitted. Now he says, “without wanting to say ‘Oh we can’t move a step without absolutely universal consensus’” – in other words, he recognises that lack of universal consensus cannot entirely stop progress. But he says it in a very mealy mouthed way. And he says, “we can be in a position where we might feel we’re being held hostage by somebody’s ill-advised or embarrassing decision” – but he doesn’t… Read more »
“Charlotte, it’s long since been time to throw the tea in the harbor again.–JPM
RIGHT ON!