zimfinalpush
Monday, 23 April 2007
Zimbabwe: Anglican bishops support Mugabe
The bishops of the Province of Central Africa have issued a Pastoral Letter. The text of the letter can be read here.
This news has been reported widely, see Associated Press African Anglican Bishops Support Mugabe and the Angola Press African Anglican bishops support Mugabe.
Magic Statistics has plenty of background links in Anglican bishops support Mugabe after Catholics call for his departure.
Here is what the Roman Catholic bishops said: Repent And Listen to the Cry of Citizens as reported in the Zimbabwe Independent.
The pro-Mugabe Herald in Zimbabwe reports it this way: Anglican Bishops Support Mugabe.
Update
Episcopal News Service has republished this report from Ecumenical News International
ZIMBABWE: Anglican bishops want sanctions on country's ruling elite lifted
Posted by Simon Sarmiento on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 6:51pm BST | TrackBack Episcopal News Service has republished this report from Ecumenical News International
ZIMBABWE: Anglican bishops want sanctions on country's ruling elite lifted
You can make a Permalink to this if you like
Categorised as: Anglican Communion
Comments
Well, that's disgraceful.
Lord have mercy!
Posted by: JCF on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 8:07pm BST If Christ hadn't been resurrected he'd turn in his grave!
Posted by: Erika Baker on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 8:08pm BST The anglican bishops are ceasing to surprise me.
Sowing and reaping .........
But because of my own Evangelical background, I suppose, the failings of Evangelicals cut deepest and hurt most somehow.
I think i am a recovering fundamentalist and doubt full recovery from the pain will become possible ......
Posted by: Laurence Roberts on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 8:40pm BST It seems that they are so concerned about sexuality that they can't deal with such mundane things as justice and mercy.
Posted by: Thomas+ on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 9:37pm BST The press reports exagerate. I wouldn't read the bishops letter as entirely supportive of Mugabe's disgraceful regime, although it is critical of the sanctions. I doubt that the Bishops from Zambia, Botswana and Malawi would have signed a letter directly supporting Mugabe.
"We call upon the government of Zimbabwe to provide a framework for peace by creating a conducive environment for dialogue and tolerance."
"As Bishops we denounce all forms of violence perpetrated by whatever source as a means of resolving conflict. As this is a degradation of those created in the image of God. We want to make it unequivocally clear to all of our people, that we do not condone what is happening in Zimbabwe."
"We call upon the civil society in Zimbabwe to articulate and promote the practice and respect of human dignity by all social and political ways in the building of a culture of governance that respects the sanctity of life."
Posted by: Brian on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 9:39pm BST They'd probably think differently if Mugabe was gay.
Posted by: Deacon Charlie Perrin on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 9:40pm BST Unfortunately, this is the sort of thing we have come to expect from the so-called "Global South." If it doesn't involve penises, vaginas, or --saints preserve us!-- anuses, then it's not a moral issue, apparently.
What an absolute, unspeakable disgrace.
On the other hand, the Roman Catholics of Zimbabwe have given the world a heroic example of what it is to speak truth to power. Thank God for them.
Posted by: JPM on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 10:38pm BST This is one of those situations where duckshoving really comes into play.
We're being cruel because of harsh sanctions claims one group. Another group claims to put in place sanctions because of cruelty to the peoples.
The mistreatment of Zimbabweans is to be deplored (and any aliens in their midst).
It does also raise the question of sanctions. My observations are that sanctions are becoming a failed tool and should probably be considered an act of war. They are equivalent to laying seige to a walled city and hoping to starve the people into submission.
The people hurt by sanctions are rarely the power brokers. It is typically the most vulnerable in the community: the poor, women, children, the afflicted, or outcastes. Sanctions actually exacerbate community tensions as the fear of shortages and unnecessary deaths leads to people behaving in more aggressive fashions. e.g. "If there is not going to be enough to go around, then at least my family/sons will survive." or "If there is not enough to go around, if we eliminate a few of our enemies mouths then there is more food for our allies".
That said, priestly castes need to be careful not to be seen to be endorsing cruel or repressive regimes. That is the what Jesus hated about certain Phariseans and others during the Roman occupation: they had become apologers and justifiers of the cruel Roman empire - remember there were crucifixes lining the highways as a form of psychological terror in their occupied nations. Imagine what that was doing to children's pysches at the time. Fast forward to today, imagine what is happening to children's psyches in Zimbabwe, Sudan, Palestine, Israel, Iran or Iraq today...
Any soul or nation who exacerbates these problems or intervenes to create a status quo that serves their economic interests with either no regard or contempt for the wellbeing of a nation's citizens and sojourners has God's emnity.
Isaiah 5:13-21, Ezekiel 34:7-31, Hosea 4, Zechariah 3:11 to 12:8 are worthy rebukes for apologists to cruelty. Matthew 25:31-46 quite makes it clear that both cruel leaders (justifying negligence of their own citizens) or those who impose blockades (depriving from without) are guilty of failing to feed and provide for God's flocks.
Posted by: Cheryl Clough on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 10:56pm BST What a revolting development this is...but, it figures as it's the same clan of mischiefmaking renegade Anglican bishops who continously inspire ignorance, outcasting, corruption of TRUTH/SOCIETY and preach hate against fellow Christians.
Posted by: Leonardo Ricardo on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 11:00pm BST I suppose it's like the Russian patriarch supporting Stalin. The Church continues to break the hearts of the faithful.
Posted by: Davis d'Ambly on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 11:04pm BST More leadership from the "Global South" Anglican bishops.
Posted by: Dennis on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 11:10pm BST Well, they have full stomach and are well fed. What else do they care for. They are eating right out of the palm of Mugabe. God have mercy!
Posted by: Ralph Asik on Monday, 23 April 2007 at 11:51pm BST Post a comment
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