Anglican Church

When I saw Prime Minister Julia Gillard on television announcing there would be a Royal Commission into child abuse in churches and other institutions I was overwhelmed. I wept uncontrollably. I became breathless. I walked the floor struggling to breathe, trying to comprehend what I had heard.

She's coming after them all. Picture: Ray Strange

It was later I realised it was about time the truth was revealed - perhaps it was time for hope and happiness, not sadness. My sister and I lived in the Church of England North Coast Children’s Home in Lismore for more than 22 years - from 1949 to 1964. I was there for 14 years, my sister eight.

Most of those years were full of hatred, bloody brutal flogging, bashing, starvation and sexual abuse. It was a home of hell and fury.

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  • sandy says:

    06:53pm | 15/11/12

    Joan acotrel Too right, you just never give up do you. Pathetic piece of work! Your obsession with Rosie is breathtaking! Anyone can read that she has won hands down yet you can’t help yourself but persist. Read more »

  • Joan says:

    06:28pm | 15/11/12

    @Sandy “sandy says:02:26pm | 15/11/12 Rosie did not start the political agenda in her comments” Read these comments, Sandy. “Rosie says:07:17am | 12/11/12 It is also common knowledge that the Catholic Church has a great deal of sway in the Australian Labor Party. No wonder Gillard Labor have stuck to… Read more »

 

Last weekend, an article appeared in a Sydney newspaper detailing proposed new vows in the Anglican diocese of Sydney, whereby women would pledge to “love and submit” to their husband. It caused quite a furore. The vows are defended today by Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen. But many see them as sexist and archaic. A visiting Anglican Minister from Britain, the Rev’d Barbara Steele-Perkins, was not impressed when she saw the story, and has penned this column exclusively for The Punch

Last weekend, three separate people in Sydney showed me the article about the proposed new marriage vows. “What do YOU think?” they all asked.

What's wrong with just loving and honoring. Photo: Herald Sun

Perhaps I should first explain why they were at all interested! I’m in Australia visiting my daughter and her family; I am an English woman, a one-time clergy wife, now an ordained Anglican minister myself. I have two part-time ‘jobs’: I’m a parish priest in a typically English village and a theological educator – that is, I help prepare men and women who are called to the Anglican ministry – both ordained and lay.

No wonder I am thought to have an opinion! And yes, I do.

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  • Muggles says:

    07:50pm | 29/08/12

    “If people would get to “know” the Author of the Bible “ Which author?  The inspiration, or the actual guys who wrote the bits and pieces of it, and edited it, and revised it, over thousands of years? Assuming you’re speaking of your particular brand of Jehova, I think the… Read more »

  • Muggles says:

    07:44pm | 29/08/12

    @scotchfinger “Similarly, the Christian reads the book in its entirety,” Virtually all modern day Christians in Australia cherry pick what they want from the bible, and disregard those bits that are inconvenient. You may well have read the bible in its entirely, but you certainly do not follow all of… Read more »

 

Reverend Canon Gene Robinson of New Hampshire became the first gay bishop to be consecrated into the American Anglican Church today in 2003.

Picture: AP.

It was a decision that angered religious leaders around the world but Robinson was elated: “I think I can do more for gay and lesbian folk in the Church by being a good bishop than by being the gay bishop,” he told reporters. Got something to say about this event or anything else? Share it here.

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  • Peter says:

    02:05pm | 04/08/10

    @ astrid. I disagree. I reckon if you believe in God (or Jesus) and you continue to live a wretched life of crime and do harm onto others, your in for a worst fate than someone who is kind but an athiest. I don’t think God will punish people for… Read more »

  • acotrel says:

    11:07pm | 03/08/10

    There is risk in harassment of others in the workplace.  A consequence could be a $37M payout.  What is the likelihood? -  As Tony Abbott says ’ NO MEANS NO’! Read more »

 

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