Peter Slipper Could Still Be Parish Priest (!) – Archbishop John Hepworth

[Background here and here]

Has Archbishop John Hepworth lost his mind?!

Peter Slipper’s ambition to serve as a parish priest could still be realised, despite the sex and fraud scandals engulfing him, the leader of Australia’s Traditional Anglican Communion affirmed yesterday.

The independent MP, who has stood aside as Speaker while allegations of abusing public entitlements are tested, is already an ordained priest in Australia’s breakaway conservative Anglican movement and acts as “chancellor” — a senior legal adviser — to primate John Hepworth and his pro-Rome synod.

Speaking from Adelaide, Archbishop Hepworth yesterday reaffirmed he would ensure that Mr Slipper stood aside from that role until allegations of sexual harassment were resolved. But he also described Mr Slipper as a devout Christian of “enormous ability” and said he was welcome to train for a public role in the church, including that of parish priest, if he was cleared of the complaint.

“He and I have discussed his becoming a parish priest, but I judged it appropriate that he shouldn’t have a public ministry while he is in the parliament,” he told The Australian. “When he leaves the parliament, one way or another, if he is prepared to undertake the necessary additional training and preparation then that would be appropriate if he wished to take a public role.”

Archbishop Hepworth said he was more concerned about the allegations of sexual misconduct than the misuse of public funds, since they go to questions of “moral failings”. He said he had personally trained Mr Slipper ahead of his ordination as an Anglican Catholic priest — permitting him to lead mass in private — and had come to recognise him as a strong and consistent campaigner on conservative moral issues who stood apart from the bulk of “monochrome” political figures.

“Peter’s speeches and his voting record are remarkably consistent when it comes to moral issues. That includes abortion, euthanasia and stem-cell research,” he said of the member for Fisher.

“He’s also done great work with the Dalai Lama on promoting religious tolerance.

“That’s the image I want to convey of Peter, and it’s not the image that is often aired publicly.”

He said standing aside from public roles, such as Speaker and church chancellor, was common practice for clerics and public officials facing serious accusations, and the move should not be read as an admission of guilt.

Archbishop Hepworth said he had heard rumours surrounding Mr Slipper, but had made investigations to satisfy himself that they were without merit.

“I’ve watched him in both public and private life and I’ve watched because I’ve been part of it, the relationship with his wife and his children, which have been close . . . and so this comes to me as a shock and a surprise,” he told Sky News.

This man, again, is opening up the Church to scandal. He should move against Slipper and quickly so. That is standard protocol. Once an outcome has been determined – both civilly and ecclesiastically - then, and only then, can (and should) any future standing be discussed.

And what on earth is a ‘pro-Rome synod’ now?! This self-absorbed arrogance is simply beyond Christian comprehension.

Contrary to the headline in The Australian, he is not Primate.

 

Actor Dies after Accidentally Hanging himself as Judas

During The Passion of Christ:

A Brazilian actor has died after accidentally hanging himself while portraying   Judas during a scene in “The Passion of Christ”.

Tiago Klimeck, 27, had been in a coma since the accident on Good Friday earlier this month in Itarare. Klimeck was enacting the suicide of Judas during the performance. He was hanging for four minutes before fellow actors realised something was wrong, believing he was playing his role. When he was taken down, Klimeck was unconscious. Scans found that the incident had caused cerebral anoxia due to the complete lack of oxygen to the brain. His life support machine was switched off on Sunday. An autopsy was due to take place yesterday.

Police are examining the security apparatus that was meant to support Klimeck during the scene.

It is unclear if any charges will be filed.

The Passion of Christ is performed every year in Brazil across the country. The biggest show is in Pernambuco, where thousands of visitors watch more than 500 actors on nine separate stages.

Tragic.

RIP.

 

Russell Crowe to Play Noah

Russell Crowe will play Noah in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah’s Ark movie, fittingly called “Noah.” Of course, you’re not surprised by this, since Crowe’s casting was first reported two months ago. Fortunately, now it’s official, with a press release and everything.

“I rejoice that Russell Crowe will be by my side on this adventure,” Aronofsky — who last directed “Black Swan” — said in a statement. “It’s his immense talent that helps me to sleep at night. I look forward to being wowed by him every day.”

Crowe’s involvement in “Noah” was initially revealed back in February by Deadline.com, and the actor took to Twitter to confirm the news that he was “eyeing” the project. The potential casting was re-confirmed by Deadline.com in March.

Liam Neeson was also rumored to star — something both Deadline.com and Crowe himself alluded to — but as yet, the wolf-boxing thespian hasn’t been added to the cast.

Production on “Noah” begins this summer. Paramount has set the film for a March 28, 2014 bow

Source

Well, if it’s to be anything like his Gladiator performance, then I for one will be very keen to see it.

 

From Birth to Age 12

Another time-lapse video:

 
Life is short…
 

Leaders of a Dissident Anglican Movement Meet in UK

The BBC is reporting:

Leaders of a worldwide dissident Anglican movement are meeting in London to discuss how to sustain traditional Christian beliefs.

The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) grew out of concern over developments in some national Churches.

Many Anglicans, particularly in Africa, object to the ordination of gay bishops in the US.

Some 200 delegates from 29 countries are expected to attend the leadership conference at a south London church.

‘Biblical teaching’

The FCA was founded following the Gafcon (Global Anglican Future) conference in Jerusalem in 2008.

Dissident Anglicans are meeting at St Mark’s church

The fellowship was an attempt by more traditional Christians to re-assert what its leaders regard as authentic biblical teaching.

The conference is being held at St Mark’s church in Battersea Rise.

One of the participants, Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen, has described the FCA as “the only game in town”.

“It is a point of rallying Anglicans from around the world. Of exciting them again about the gospel of Jesus.

“It is the mainstream. It represents, the people involved in it, represents the vast majority of Anglicans,” Archbishop Jensen told BBC correspondent John McManus.

Archbishop Jensen said he appreciated that the current head of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, has had a difficult job in trying to keep the organisation united in the face of widely-differing world views.

They have issued a press release  here.

 

Exploring Jerusalem’s Old City Streets with Street View

Every year, 3.5 million people come to Israel to visit ancient sites that are holy to billions of people, to walk among the unique stone of Jerusalem, or to relax on the beaches of the Mediterranean.

To so, click here.

Fantastic. Makes me want to pray that wistful prayer: ‘Next year in Jerusalem’.

HT:  Dr Jim West