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Seeing
Christ
In
Human
Rights
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| By Donn Mitchell Editor, The Anglican Examiner |
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
February "Seeing Christ" Discussion
Focuses on Article Two: Equality
Focuses on Article Two: Equality
The discussion poses the following questions:
When you think of your experience of Jesus—in scripture, tradition,
reason, and spiritual experience:
—What suggests that we are entitled to freedom?
—What evidence do we have that Jesus makes no distinctions of the
kind listed above?
—Are there distinctions Jesus rejects that are not mentioned above?
In your view, does the language of Article 2 of the Declaration:
—Limit the forms of discrimination that should be rejected?
—Apply only to governments or nation-states?
A total of nine thoughtful Christians have already considered these
questions and posted their responses here. Readers of The Anglican
Examiner are invited to reflect on these comments and offer their own
insights and/or pose additional questions.
Participate in "Seeing Christ in Human Rights" here.
When you think of your experience of Jesus—in scripture, tradition,
reason, and spiritual experience:
—What suggests that we are entitled to freedom?
—What evidence do we have that Jesus makes no distinctions of the
kind listed above?
—Are there distinctions Jesus rejects that are not mentioned above?
In your view, does the language of Article 2 of the Declaration:
—Limit the forms of discrimination that should be rejected?
—Apply only to governments or nation-states?
A total of nine thoughtful Christians have already considered these
questions and posted their responses here. Readers of The Anglican
Examiner are invited to reflect on these comments and offer their own
insights and/or pose additional questions.
Participate in "Seeing Christ in Human Rights" here.
Church of England Challenge
To U.K. Equality Bill Assailed
To U.K. Equality Bill Assailed
In an article in Britain’s influential Guardian, Savitri
Hensman has assailed the Church of England’s challenge
to the government’s proposed Equality Bill. Hensman, a
Sri Lankan woman living in the United Kingdom, is a
widely published human rights activist.
Hensman has assailed the Church of England’s challenge
to the government’s proposed Equality Bill. Hensman, a
Sri Lankan woman living in the United Kingdom, is a
widely published human rights activist.
| Church of England bishops, Hensman asserts, “have been energetic in resisting attempts to clarify equality law in line with the European Union's requirements and what many would regard as basic decency.” Noting that churches are already permitted to discriminate on various bases in matters of ordination, she said senior church leaders had become concerned that faith-based organizations “might not have enough freedom to exclude those who do not fit their ‘guiding doctrine and ethos’”, describing it as a step backwards from earlier church positions. The bill, which has been blocked in the House of Lords, was introduced by the government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown in response to a European Commission directive to bring the United Kingdom’s equality laws into closer conformity to the standards of the European Union. Read the complete story here. Savitri Hensman is a participant in The Anglican Examiner’s discussion, “Seeing Christ in Human Rights.” You can read her comments on Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights here. |
| The month of February begins with the celebration of Candlemas (February 2), formally known as the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord. A major feature of the liturgy is the blessing of candles and a procession signifying the first entry of Christ—the Light of the World, into the Temple at Jersusalem. |
| Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. |
| In the final draft text of the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant, even the Church of England “by law established” could be “suspended” if a Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting deems a particular action “incompatible” with the covenant. While devoting the bulk of its text to affirmations of diversity, plurality, and provincial autonomy, the final text of the proposed covenant still creates a disciplinary mechanism that will give an elite group unprecedented power to sanction, discipline, and exclude member churches for taking actions (or making prophetic witness) deemed “controversial” by people who object to such actions or witness. Section 4.2.5 allows the Standing Committee to request a church to defer a controversial action or face “relational consequences.” The Standing Committee can deem an action “controversial” regardless of how much support it has in the “offending” church, even if failing to take the action would violate local canon or civil law. No provision is made for determining whether the views of primates, councilors, and standing committee members accurately represent the consensus fidelium in their own provinces. Their voices would have equal weight regardless of the size of their provinces, which range from 12,000 to 25,000,000 baptized. Read the complete draft text here. |
In an effort to shine the
light of Christ on human
rights, The Anglican
Examiner’s on-going
discussion, “Seeing Christ
in Human Rights,” will
devote February's
discussion to Article Two
of the Universal
Declaration of Human
Rights.
The text of Article Two
reads:
light of Christ on human
rights, The Anglican
Examiner’s on-going
discussion, “Seeing Christ
in Human Rights,” will
devote February's
discussion to Article Two
of the Universal
Declaration of Human
Rights.
The text of Article Two
reads: