Episcopal Convention Condemns Bible as 'Anti-Jewish'

[cmotherofpirl]

Episcopal Convention Condemns Bible as 'Anti-Jewish'

By Hans Zeiger
VirtueOnline Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org

COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/15/06)-The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today passed a resolution essentially condemning the Bible as an "anti-Jewish" document. Not only does the resolution aim to address perceptions of anti-Jewish prejudice in the Bible and Episcopal liturgy, but it suggests that such prejudice is actually "expressed in...Christian Scriptures and liturgical texts."

Originated in the Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music, Resolution C001 directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to "collect and develop materials to assist members of the Church to address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred by portions of Christian scriptures and liturgical texts, with suggestions for preaching, congregational education, and lectionary use, and to report to the 76th General Convention."

Both houses of the Episcopal Church Convention passed the resolution, including a 68 percent approval in the House of Deputies on Thursday.

The Rev. Ruth A Meyers of the Diocese of Chicago, Secretary of the Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music, explained to the House of Deputies why her committee had expanded the wording in the language to include not only prejudice in "liturgical texts," but also in "Christian scriptures."

"We did have a question about whether Scripture itself uses anti-Jewish prejudice," Meyers said. Referring specifically to the Gospel account of the crucifixion, she added, "That scriptural text...has in fact stirred anti-Jewish prejudice and resulted in significant violence toward Jewish people."

Canon Kendall Harmon, Diocese of South Carolina, Deputy on the Education Committee, proposed an amendment on the floor of the House of Deputies to restore the original language of Resolution C001 without condemning "Christian scriptures."

A deputy from Massachusetts argued in favor of Harmon's amendment, "I believe it is so important to deal with the question of the liturgical text and those that may promote or maintain anti-Jewish prejudice, and I am not prepared to deal with the larger question of Scripture."

The Rev. Adam Trambley, rector of Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church and a deputy from Northwestern Pennsylvania, declared, "There is an issue with perceived anti-Semitism in the New Testament...The amendment seems to be more interested in separating the liturgical texts we use from the Scriptural texts."

The amendment failed by a vote of 424-387.

Virtue Online interviewed the Very Rev. Dr. Peter Cook of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, a member of the Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music, following the final vote of the House of Deputies to concur with the House of Bishops. Cook attempted to dissuade his committee from amending Resolution C001, but his vote was far outweighed.

Resolution C001 "in effect smuggled in a critique of the Scriptural text instead of the liturgical text," said Cook.

Underlying it all was a terribly flawed understanding of God's Word, Cook suggested.

"I think it reaffirms the belief amongst many that our culture is entitled to critique the Scriptures." Cook said that the liberal view of Scripture had triumphed in the passage of the resolution, based on the belief that the Bible is "a document produced in a certain time with limitations, and because of that it may not be relevant for all cultures at all times."

The orthodox view, according to Cook, is that "the Scriptures were written at a particular place in a particular culture, and that they are relevant to all cultures."

But "if Scriptures were only communicated by men, which means that they were man's best efforts to interpret what God is saying," they will inevitably miss the mark, Cook concluded.

END

[jswranch]

I miss being Episcopalian... no, wait.... never mind.




Keep them in your prayers

[puellapaschalis]

[quote]"We did have a question about whether Scripture itself uses anti-Jewish prejudice," Meyers said. Referring specifically to the Gospel account of the crucifixion, she added, "That scriptural text...has in fact stirred anti-Jewish prejudice and resulted in significant violence toward Jewish people."[/quote]

Does this refer to "His blood be on us and on our children"?

Love and prayers,

PP

[KnightofChrist]

I'm gonna say what everyone should be thinking... The Episcopal "Church" is a false church, that is an apostate church, what the book of revelation would call a synagogue of satan. Openly Gay Bishops are appointed and praised, their new us leader teaches homosexality is not a sinfull act against God, and now they condemn the Holy Bible, The Word of God.

May God have mercy on their souls.

[KatS]

[quote]I miss being Episcopalian... no, wait.... never mind. [/quote]

:roll:

[Norseman82]

Is this for real or something from [i]The Onion[/i]?

[cmotherofpirl]

for real

[KatS]

Condemnation of the scriptures as anti-semitic and anti-Jewish is a common theme among liberals. I've heard and read about this before but this is the first time that I've ever seen a church or organization "make it official."

[thessalonian]

The gates of hell have prevailed on their church. Pray for them.

Lucky for us we have the promise of the papacy, otherwise we could be them.

Edited June 21, 2006 by thessalonian

[Guest phatdaddy]

[quote name='KatS' post='1009720' date='Jun 21 2006, 09:24 AM']
Condemnation of the scriptures as anti-semitic and anti-Jewish is a common theme among liberals. I've heard and read about this before but this is the first time that I've ever seen a church or organization "make it official."
[/quote]

I actually think this is a good thing. Let me explain: Obviously schismatic church's (including Episcopal) do not possess the fullness of faith that can only be found in the Catholic Church, so error can even lead to cult-like (in the bad sense) practices. The further they stray from the truth, one can only hope that some will begin to question the legitimacy of the protesting church they belong to. In other words, if their church is wrong about this doctrine, what other errors do they hold as true.

So, maybe this is an opportunity for some to receive the grace to pursue the truth which could lead them to the Catholic Church. What the world needs now more than anything is clarity. As Catholics we have been blessed with a clarity of faith (not counting the dark times of our own faith crises). So let us be thankful and pray for our separated brethern. Let me be clear - I don't pray for them to remain in their schismatic church, I don't pray for them to be complacent and satisfied with the poison they are taking in. I pray that they be given the fullness of faith - the Catholic Church.
Mr. Ray (just expressing an opinion)

[Groo the Wanderer]

Man, oh man! Time to start adding some pews to our buildings.... Hear that thunder outside? It's the sound of a mighty throng of true Christians coming home to the Church.

Methinks we shall start to see a mass exodus from the Episcopalian parishes..let us all welcome them with open arms to the promised land.

Already happened twice in my diocese - 2 Episcopal congregations broke away years ago and applied for full communion with Rome. Kinda different having a couple of married priests around now. : :

[avemaria40]

Holy Mary, pray for us. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.

[KatS]

[quote]Man, oh man! Time to start adding some pews to our buildings.... Hear that thunder outside? It's the sound of a mighty throng of true Christians coming home to the Church.[/quote]



[quote]I pray that they be given the fullness of faith - the Catholic Church.[/quote]

That is a great way of looking at it. It's a problem, but...it's also an opportunity.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

St. Edith Stein, pray for us.

[jezic]

The denomination will probably split again.

I find it hard to believe that any Protestants would ever condemn the Bible.