Fighting for the Cross
I came across this article from the Guardian Newspaper, and although it is not bang up to date recent, it still displays a lot of the current Anglican (Church of England) attitudes. To remind those who are not overly familiar, the Anglican church has become so apostate and interfaith that it could not bow any further down towards Mecca, Rome, or towards anywhere else it is asked to go - anywhere but at the feet of Jesus Christ acknowledging Him as Lord and Saviour and the ONLY way, truth and life, that is. The archbishop is a member of a druid sect (according to Jacob Prasch) and has this year hit the headlines with his comments about Islamic Sharia Law being a good thing, and it is the linked Episcopal church who employs Muslim clerics. Now we see Archbishop Rowan Williams fighting for the cross. But not its message, oh no, too offensive that is, and not politically correct. Rather, it is the symbol around the neck- for many a superstitious idol - he defends and will stick his neck out for. In this campaign that he will get passionate about and show his muscle, he is supported by Rome, lovers of idols made of wood or gold or anything. Dear, dear, what does this say about this pathetic church and its leaders. God have mercy on them for their foolishness! Where are the true defenders of the cross and its message? - may they come forth and proclaim it boldly!
‘Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury…. proved he was a force to be reckoned with when he joined the row over whether a British Airways check-in worker could openly wear a cross on a necklace at work. Speaking in Rome yesterday, where he has been seeing the Pope, Dr Williams said that consultations had begun on a possible disinvestment of BA shares. A few hours later, faced with the possible sale of the church’s £10.25m shares in British Airways and the lingering possibility of a boycott, the nation’s flag carrier suddenly announced a review of its 34-page uniform policy………..
Dr Williams spoke with fervour, declaring that, if the airline felt the cross was a source of offence, then he himself would find that “deeply offensive”.
John Reynolds, the Ethical Investment AG chairman, said: “I think this [shows] that the church does have a voice.” He is is pressing ahead with the meeting, which will help decide whether the Church’s investment bodies will be advised to sell their shares. Even though Mr Reynolds cautioned that disinvestment was “the ultimate sanction”, and “very rarely used”, the fact that the head of church was speaking so openly about the matter appears to have forced BA to review a policy that does not allow necklaces to be worn.
“People of any faith should have the right to display the signs of their faiths in public,” the archbishop said [passionately].. “What I find deeply confusing about the present situation is the response of British Airways, which doesn’t seem to make it clear whether they’re simply talking about regulations concerning a piece of jewellery, or whether they are in some sense claiming that the cross is a source of offence.”
A large pastoral cross around his own neck, he went on: “If BA is really saying, or implying, that the wearing of a cross in public is a source of offence, I regard that as deeply offensive and, in a society where religious liberty and the expression of religious commitment is free, I regard it as something really quite serious.”
The archbishop said that if, however, the airline were saying the case of Ms Eweida was a health and safety issue, “I would question if that is a sensible kind of response and whether there really is a problem. I would ask them to look very seriously at this considering the enormous amount of trouble and dismay this has caused in the Christian community.”
In Rome, a top Vatican official wholeheartedly backed the archbishop of Canterbury’s position. But the Roman Catholic archbishop of Westminster, cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, was reluctant to threaten retaliatory moves.
Sitting beside Dr Williams was Cardinal Walter Kasper, the German head of the Vatican department that looks after relations with other Christian denominations. He said: “I fully support what the archbishop has told you”.
Dr John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, who had been outspoken in his criticism of BA’s decision, said last night: “Amen. This is excellent news for Nadia, BA and society as a whole … The cross is not just a piece of jewellery, it is a sign of the love of God displayed in Jesus Christ.”
The Guardian, Nov. 25, 2006
Oh and one more thing, the Church has SHARES in British Airways? Say no more…