Thinking Anglicans

more opinions on the Derby foster care case

There seems to be no end to the comments on this.

Alan Wilson writes for the Guardian’s Face to Faith column, Homosexuality, Christianity and child welfare.

…So what does the case really show? First, that the customary paranoia of rightwing newspaper op-eds sounds silly in court. Courts will injunct in cases of real urgency, but they are, quite rightly, very reluctant to compensate people for wrongs they have not yet suffered, simply to make a point on behalf of a group of zealots, however sincere they may be. It is absolutely no part of a court’s job to enter into such antics, just to create a story for the press.

This case was the fourth bite at this particular cherry by the barrister Paul Diamond and his chums in the Christian Legal Centre. There is now nothing more legally to be said on this subject than various judges, especially Lord Justice Laws, a devout Christian and churchwarden, have said so far. Rightwing Christians must establish their views on their merits, not expect courts to do the job for them.

How does orthodox Christian teaching relate to the views that were seeking legal protection? When Mrs Johns averred, for example, that “having a different sexual orientation was unnatural and wrong”, she put herself well beyond what either the Church of England or the church of Rome are prepared to say on the matter of orientation. The Johnses are entitled to their views, but cannot expect them to be unquestioned insofar as they could affect the welfare of a child…

Anglican Mainstream has reproduced an editorial from the Church of England Newspaper The unique problem of Christianity for the judges.

…The three most potent decisions of the High Court of Justice, delivered by Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson, were that they were ‘secular’ judges, that they accepted that caring foster parents were not acceptable for holding sexual morality corresponding to the historic Christian ethical stance on homosexual sexual intercourse, and for denying a scintilla of place for Christianity in British law. They also implicitly accepted the dogma of the EHRC, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, that Christian beliefs taught to young children would ‘infect’ them. We have come a very, very long way from ‘Clause 4’ and the ban on promoting homosexuality in schools, now that is compulsory and Christian belief is positively harmful. In the eyes of the law homophobia is not religious, anyone of any belief can be guilty, but this raises serious questions for traditionalist Christians and the Churches in general. Doctrine must now be viewed in subordination to the country’s anti-discrimination laws…

And Paul Sims at the New Humanist writes about Fostering, gay rights and the secular law.

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John Roch
John Roch
13 years ago

It was, of course, Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, not Clause 4 of the 1918 Constitution of the Labour Party, that read a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”. (per Wikipedia) For those who don’t remember Clause 4 – “To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of… Read more »

Richard Ashby
Richard Ashby
13 years ago

The following, by Dr FIM Gilbert – Medical Director, Exeter Hospice, was passed on to me by a friend.

To doubt is human, to be certain is ridiculous.

Father Ron Smith
13 years ago

The fact that ‘Mainstream’ (I privately think of them as rather more ‘Slipstream’) mentions the emotive phrase ‘homosexual sexual intercourse’ in it’s summary of ‘THE ethical Christian stance’ denotes what they prefer to placard about the whole subject of gay relationships. They know nothing of faithful monogamous relationships within the LGBT community, nor are they prepared to accept that there could be such a thing, and that they could be within the parameters of the Christian Gospel. This response to the recent foster-parents’ plea for recognition of their anti-gay attitudes, is typical of ‘Mainstream’s determination to ignore recent findings on… Read more »

rjb
rjb
13 years ago

Bishop Alan Wilson is a wise and saintly man (and therefore unlikely ever to attain further preferment in the C of E), but this particular claim seems a bit surprising:

“When Mrs Johns averred, for example, that “having a different sexual orientation was unnatural and wrong”, she put herself well beyond what either the Church of England or the church of Rome are prepared to say on the matter of orientation.”

Well, I think the words “intrinsically disordered” pretty clearly imply “unnatural and wrong” so far as the Church of Rome is concerned.

Randal Oulton
Randal Oulton
13 years ago

The Anglican mainstream is actually marginalized nutters on the sidelines, slowly dying off.

Erika Baker
Erika Baker
13 years ago

“When Mrs Johns averred, for example, that “having a different sexual orientation was unnatural and wrong”, she put herself well beyond what either the Church of England or the church of Rome are prepared to say on the matter of orientation.” I would also say that this is, precisely, how most people in the pew understand the CoE’s stance on homosexuality. The problem is that “It’s ok to be something but it’s not ok to live accordingly” is a distinction we don’t usually make in life. It’s a tortuous mental compromise the church makes with itself to justify an outdated… Read more »

karen macqueen+
karen macqueen+
13 years ago

When, in all of these reflections on the Jones’ case, do we address the elephant in the room? It is simply a fact that the Christian Churches in England, as here in the US, have been the primary agents in fomenting a dangerous environment for LGBTI children, young people and adults. Placement of foster children must, in the final analysis, be based on the best interests of the child, rather than grieved feelings of the persons desiring to foster, or the views of various Churches and Christian advocacy groups. Surely, we don’t need to remind these persons of the harrowing… Read more »

Nat
Nat
13 years ago

That Mrs. Jones remarked that “having a different sexual orientation was unnatural and wrong,” she underlined the fact that to many, who perhaps do not think as clearly as they deed to, this is a “war” of identity, and against a state of being, as it might be a war on being left-handed. If a person is homosexual, THAT is unnatural and wrong. By extension, this means one of two things: One, there is no hope of salvation for the homosexual person, no need to repent of anything: you are wrong. Your actual, real being is WRONG. Unhappily, this is… Read more »

Randal Oulton
Randal Oulton
13 years ago

In Canada currently, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is meeting to address the issue of the tens of thousands of children sexually abused in Church schools. “We took away your past, present and future and we need to be accountable for what we did in the past.”

http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/news-update-items/article/we-took-away-your-past-present-and-future-9607.html

Martin Reynolds
13 years ago

This editorial from the CEN must qualify as amongst the worst in a very bad bunch of journalistic comments on the judgment.

“Let’s throw in a bit of islamaphobia as an extra.” Someone must have said, completely ignoring the fact that the law recognises that Roman Catholics and Jews have their own religious courts as have other religious groups, all of whom may be equipped to mediate in matters like marriage and other affairs, in a perfectly lawful way. Yet alone the Church of England whose many courts have the full force of statute law.

This is a scandal.

John
John
13 years ago

Yet, Martin, are there not hopeful things, predicated precisely on the status of the C of E as established church? If the Coalition (which I do not love) brings in full same-sex marriage (which I do love), the C of E (here = the C of E establishment, which is vastly out of kilter with at least a sizeable section of its members) will find itself in a nasty pickle. As I understand it (on the analogy of divorced people), same-sex marrieds would then be entitled to DEMAND a church wedding in a C of E church.

drdanfee
drdanfee
13 years ago

What Erika and Karen said. I actually see and hear and smell, two elephants in the room, a double generational phenom. The older elephant has mighty tusks and a loud trumpeting snort/call. He – and this older animal is definitely, HE – feels deep inside his own elephant skin that his heterosexuality (real and presumed, always) is privileged, and must have suitable powers to lord it over the queer folks in particular, as well as to put the asterisk footnote (No queer folks need apply) as the qualifier for every possible doctrine, not least his elephantine beliefs in his own… Read more »

Laurence Roberts
Laurence Roberts
13 years ago

Now the Prime Minister has spoken out about the court’s ‘judgment’.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/03/08/david-cameron-says-christians-should-be-tolerant-of-homosexuality/

Simon Sarmiento
13 years ago

Andrea Williams has written even more on this case, at
http://christianconcern.com/blog/permanent-exclusion-and-the-johns

Father Ron Smith
13 years ago

“The Big Society is a Big Deception. It pretends to be inclusive but is in fact totally intolerant of mainstream Christian views”

– Comment from ‘Animal Farm’ –

I’m quite surprised about this statement from an organisation that titles an article ‘Animal Farm’ as even animals are aware of the incidence of homo-sexuality among their kindred. Just ask any farmer.

Ms Andrea Williams needs to be introduced to the reality of gender and sexuality as it really is – not as she has grow up to understand what it’s all about. Prejudice is no excuse for ignorance.

Richard Ashby
Richard Ashby
13 years ago

Mrs Williams repeats the deliberate(?) mis-interpretation of the court ‘judgement’ again. Firstly there was no judgement. Secondly the Johns were not being required to ‘promote’ homosexuality (cf Section 28 which forbade the ‘promotion of homosexuality by local authorities’ Evangelicals seem to have a belief that homosexuality can somehow be caught by talking about it.)

Laurence Roberts
Laurence Roberts
13 years ago

Andrea Williams acknowledges that the court and the judges did not ‘rule’ against the Johns. Au contraire, they could be instated by Derby Council. ‘When the media coverage dies down, the Johns will still be left with an empty bedroom. Unless Derby Council changes its mind, they will be left permanently excluded from the system.’ But for Derby Council to do that, Mr and Mrs Johns would need to complete the selection process, which they baulked at, backing out before a decision was reached. I do not know that I could or trust such a litigious couple to collaborate with… Read more »

Laurence Roberts
Laurence Roberts
13 years ago

‘Secular and humanistic values are, ultimately, based on the total rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How anybody thinks that this is sustainable in the long term is staggering. Historical precedents are not encouraging.’

What a rant ! What cliches. What vague generalisations. I don’t know what she really means – if anything. She is waving her signifers above her head !

But what would Jesus do ? Where is he to be found ?

He set a child in their midst.

Pat O'Neill
Pat O'Neill
13 years ago

“‘Secular and humanistic values are, ultimately, based on the total rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How anybody thinks that this is sustainable in the long term is staggering.”

Are we then to suggest that the Jewish state of Israel is unsustainable? That the predominantly Hindu state of India is doomed? The long-term success of a culture depends on its acceptance of Christianity? What then are we to make of the decline of the Roman Empire post-Constantine?

Erika Baker
Erika Baker
13 years ago

“I do not know that I could or trust such a litigious couple to collaborate with the statutory authorities in the care of children.”

The couple and the Council sought legal guidance together.
I find that a hugely mature approach and as far removed from litigious as you can get.

Cynthia Gilliatt
Cynthia Gilliatt
13 years ago

Hasn’t anything happened since this segment was posted?

Martin Reynolds
13 years ago

Yes, Laurie, all that you say – and more, I am afraid. Yet one suspects that their funding depends on the creation of the deceptions and myths they are selling. For myself I do hope that Derby approve the couple. It is interesting to note that the Johns have previously temporarily homed some 15 children in the 29 months they were formerly approved as foster carers, and it is also important to note that foster carers now get some £20k per year tax free per child (pro rata). The approvals can be very specific, so I would suggest that based… Read more »

Randal Oulton
Randal Oulton
13 years ago

While Anglicans in Britain and America fight over gender and sexuality, Canadian Anglicans hold rally to demand help for the hungry.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/950760–goar-why-do-ontarians-have-to-beg-for-food

Richard Ashby
Richard Ashby
13 years ago

I have just heard Paul Diamond on the Radio 4 Today programme, say that we live in a Liberal Tyranny and he wants David Cameron to do something about it. I don’t think that he will have much joy there either, judging by this recent report.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/03/08/david-cameron-says-christians-should-be-tolerant-of-homosexuality/

Laurence Roberts
Laurence Roberts
13 years ago

A long interview with the barrister and Lord Faulkner on Today, today.

The barrister has a poor grasp of the issues, and fails to listen or learn.

He appears to think the court made a ‘ruling’ ‘banning’ the couple from fostering.

He thinks the BA hostess was prevented from wearing a cross because it and she, are Christian, where as B Airways do not allow the wearing of any hanging jewelry, for health and safety reasons.

He thinks there are many poor quality judges.

I am ashamed to be a Christian.

Simon Sarmiento
13 years ago

Cynthia, yes other things have happened. Regular blogging will continue here shortly..

Erika Baker
Erika Baker
13 years ago

“I have just heard Paul Diamond on the Radio 4 Today programme, say that we live in a Liberal Tyranny and he wants David Cameron to do something about it”

Oh the liberal tyranny of not being allowed to do something that is harmful to other people! What IS the world coming to!

DAvid WIlson
DAvid WIlson
13 years ago

Funny – when I prayed about it I felt the Holy Spirit gave me the scripture quote Mark 15. Didnt know what that was but when I looked at it, it was the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus.

Laurence Roberts
Laurence Roberts
13 years ago

Good olde holy spirit

MarkBrunson
13 years ago

David Wilson, Maybe it was telling you that you were making a sacrifice that had already been made? Of course, if you’re praying about “it” in terms of the child-protecting decision against the Johnses, perhaps it was trying to remind you that religious conservatives were part of the move to crucify Jesus? Perhaps, the child has been brought before “Pilate” and this time, “Pilate” didn’t was his hands? Of course, perhaps it was just your imagination, as we progressives are constantly told our experience of the HS is. Either way, it is an insulting and extraordinary level of hubris to… Read more »

Father Ron Smith
13 years ago

“Secular and humanistic values are, ultimately, based on the total rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How anybody thinks that this is sustainable in the long term is staggering.”

– Andrea Williams, (G.S.Member) –

Ms Williams need to go to theology shcool. There she might learn something about God’s love of human beings – proved at the Incarnation – and by this gospel proclamation:
“God so LOVED the world that he gave his only-begotten Son…”. In fact, God Himself became a human-being – in every respect like us….”

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