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Iris Robinson controversy
In mid-January, it was reported that the Tate Gallery had purchased some previously ‘unknown’ etchings by William Blake. On one of these etchings, the artist had scrawled the words He sought pleasure and he found pain. They seem to be an apt comment on recent events in the life of Iris Robinson.
The press - and, more especially, the internet - has been full of lurid speculation and jokes of dubious taste. People have been tempted to gloat; but personal tragedy, even if largely self-inflicted, is not an appropriate occasion for gloating. One can only imagine the depths of pain that all the Robinsons, Iris especially, are going through at this time, and that pain warrants our prayers.
We are all guilty, at some level, of double standards. Even though, at one level, the moral lessons are easy to draw, they enlighten no one and sound self-righteous.
The story of Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8: 1-11) is instructive here. This woman was paraded by her gloating, self-righteous captors, who tried to trap Jesus by demanding that he comment on the Mosaic legal demand that she be stoned for her offence. If Jesus had just agreed with the Mosaic Law as it stood, his whole ministry of compassion would have been punctured in one go; if he had dismissed the law as draconian and out of date, they could have pilloried him as someone who had no respect for his faith. Jesus does not fall into their trap: instead, he gently suggests that the one who had no sin should cast the first stone. "I don’t condemn you either," he said, "go, and sin no more."
It is absolutely central to our faith that God, through Jesus, gives all of us a second (indeed, an awful lot more than that!) chance. If God is slow to condemn, because he understands the pressure that we are all under, we should be similarly slow to get on our high horses.
Timothy Kinahan (Canon)
2 Woodland Avenue
Helen’s Bay
Bangor
Co.Down
BT19 1TX
Kenny Donaldson’s letter (Gazette, 15th January) is a testimony to all those who feel that their opinion is being ignored in favour of a move, done at indecent haste, to facilitate, appease and generally pacify those who would still do their worst in our Province.
I thank Kenny for his honesty and courage in highlighting this very sensitive subject. Like Kenny, I also feel disillusioned at the ‘other worldliness’ of the views and stances taken by some of our Church leaders. One sometimes wonders if they are really listening to what people are saying or, perhaps in their desire to get some sort of a solution to this ongoing ‘festering sore’, they have somehow become detached and impervious to further thought on the matter.
It is a very sad indictment on the Church and the Working Group referred to in the Gazette that Bishop Jackson has declined to give an interview about its submission to the Northern Ireland Office on the recommendations of the Consultative Group on the Past. If he did not want to take responsibility for answering questions and queries about the recommendations made, then he should never have become involved in the process at all.
Joan Farrell
28 Knockmore Park
Bangor
BT20 3SL
I feel compelled to write in response to the extraordinary letter written by Senator David Norris, published in the 15th January Gazette, concerning the election of Mary Glasspool by the Episcopal Church to be Suffragan Bishop in Los Angeles.
Senator Norris confuses two very different issues and, whilst both affect the family of the Christian Church and both concern human sexuality, they are in every other respect quite different.
One issue concerns the doctrine and teaching of the Christian Church, and specifically its understanding of the Holy Scriptures in as much as the lifestyle and sexual practices of her ministers are concerned; the other issue (it’s important to note, from a very different cultural perspective) concerns the threat of proposed legislation in Uganda and the appalling position into which gay people would be put, potentially facing death for expressing their sexuality.
It is our duty as followers of Christ to stand up for the persecuted and to speak out in the face of injustice and sin. We are compelled then to add our voices to the bishops and archbishops, politicians and those who campaign for human rights, crying out for justice and mercy when we see any of God’s people marginalized and abused, as the gay community appear to be in Uganda at this time.
But, as Bible-believing Christians, we cry out for righteousness, justice and mercy, precisely because we believe in a God who has called us to live holy and righteous lives and who has set out for us moral absolutes.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were undoubtedly blessed with spiritual, intellectual, administrative and/or pastoral skills, but it is quite clear that our Lord found them wanting and not fit for purpose. Senator Norris may do well to be reminded that, whilst Jesus did welcome into his company the woman caught in adultery (John 8), he did so upon the understanding that she put behind her that particular sin. Moreover, I fear that the same "vision and prophetic spirit needed to follow the truth of human understanding" would probably be as comfortable with her infidelity as it is with Mary Glasspool’s way of life.
Both supporters and opponents of Mary Glasspool’s election will hold equally strong feelings. Both sides will also cite Scripture to support their views. To refer to those on either side of this difficult debate as "ignorant and unscholarly" seems only to add insult to injury and to do further untold injury to the Body of Christ.
It is sad, indeed, that any member of the community of the Church could look forward with such eager anticipation to something that looks set only to damage our witness in a world that is crying out to hear the truth of the Gospel of Christ.
Mark Greenstreet (The Revd)
26 Larchwood Avenue
Banbridge
BT32 3XH