An interview given by a Christian reality TV star in the USA
has led to his suspension from the reality show, and has sharply divided
opinion across the country. Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the family in the
unexpectedly popular “Duck Dynasty” show, was asked his definition of sin; he
replied, "Start with homosexual behaviour and just morph out from there —
bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and
those men." He then quoted the New Testament’s strongest condemnation of
homosexuality (and other sins) from 1 Corinthians 6.9-11, along with the preceding warning not to be deceived. He was
suspended from the show indefinitely by the cable channel that makes it for
linking homosexuality and bestiality, which prompted a major backlash from fans
and from supporters of free speech, which is given far greater protection under
American law than under British law. His
family said, “We have been praying about this a lot. His remarks were coarse
but they were in line with the Bible. We cannot imagine continuing the show
without him.”
A committee of the Scottish Parliament recently considered
some amendments to the Scottish gay marriage Bill. A “reasonable accommodation”
amendment to protect public sector employees from being victimised for
supporting traditional marriage was voted down, as was a proposal to protect
the charitable status of organisations that support marriage between a man and
a woman. A third amendment, to protect the eligibility of adults who want to
adopt or foster children but support traditional marriage, was deemed
unnecessary under current adoption policy and was also voted down. A spokesman
for Scotland for Marriage said, “The Scottish Parliament is in cloud cuckoo
land if it doesn’t believe these changes are necessary.”
The pastor in Kazakhstan who was arrested on trumped up
charges is now in the prison’s medical wing, and there are fears among his
family that his health may deteriorate further. A campaign to ask people to
contact Kazakh embassies to request his release has so far not produced a
result.
A Church of England priest who alleges he suffered a four year
campaign of harassment by parishioners after he tried to merge some churches
has been given permission to sue the Church. He claims that, when he was priest
of a rural parish in Worcestershire, he and his family suffered abuse that was
bad enough for him to install CCTV cameras on his property. He was originally
told by an employment tribunal that priests could not sue the Church, but that
decision has been overturned on appeal.
In sport, with the Winter Olympics less than two months
away, the BBC are to cover the Skeleton World Cup; this has nothing to do with
Hammer Studios or the book of Ezekiel, it’s a solo bobsleigh competition. Also
in sport, England are playing a five-Test cricket series against Australia for
the Ashes trophy. England are currently in second place, and are confidently
expected to stay there.
And finally, an ‘alternative Christian’ website has (re-)published
a list of gifts to give your loved one on the “12 days of Kitschmas.”
Suggestions include a “Jesus Shaves” mug (fill it with a hot drink and the picture of Jesus loses its
beard); an inflatable Santa Claus in an American military uniform; a collection
of rubber ducks representing the characters from the Nativity (see picture
below); and a box of John Calvin chocolates. No indulgence please.
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