Friday, May 4, 2007 at 12:12am
Sleazy McGreevey
Column: Interesting Times
I was going to stay away from any discussion of the current struggle within the Episcopal Church over homosexuality, the authority of Scripture and the meaning of Anglicanism. But, really — James McGreevey? James E. McGreevey, who resigned as New Jersey governor in 2004 after saying that he had had an extramarital affair with a man, has become an Episcopalian and wants to be ordained as a priest in that faith, says the news. Wants to be a priest?
"The former governor, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, was officially received into the Episcopal faith on Sunday at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan, said the Rev. Kevin D. Bean, the church's vicar. A spokesman for the Chelsea section of the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan said Mr. McGreevey had been accepted as a student.
"The General Theological Seminary, the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church, was founded in 1817 and has been a New York City landmark since 1826. A leading center for theological education in the Anglican Communion, the seminary's primary mission is to educate and form leaders for the Church in a changing world," says the seminary's website.
Changing world is one thing, but McGreevey is, in My Humble Opinion, way beyond "changing world" — unless one calls his admitted cruising highways for a pickup gay encounter "changing world." Among other things, he is in court with his estranged about-to-be-ex-wife over child custody and he is, according to all reports, being less than a gentleman, less than Christian, if Christian still means loving your neighbor as yourself.
When I was baptized and confirmed into the Episcopal Church decades ago, "Christian" meant sincere, humble and orderly. Or it did to me at 12 years of age. The Church was a place of refuge, a place where people were kind to each other, where a young girl could find moral role models. But perhaps, in this "changing world" it is no longer important to have good role models for young people.
Yes, the church should be home to all people, not just virginal 12-year-olds. Whether a denomination should admit gays is up to that denomination. The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, said he and his partner want to be among the first couples in New Hampshire to unite officially under a civil unions measure soon to be signed into law. I would have no comment on that — one way or another. But I shudder to think of James McGreevey — publicity hound — as priest? Don't we all know more about him already than anyone should know about anyone? Two ex-wives, two daughters, lovers, lovers, lovers, faithless, faithless, faithless now wants to be a man of faith. Now is the time for Amazing Grace.
The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, will visit the United States in September to meet with bishops of the Episcopal Church, who last month declared an "urgent need" for such a meeting. The archbishop, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, has been struggling to keep the communion intact despite deep divisions over homosexuality, the authority of Scripture and the meaning of Anglicanism.
Until September I will practice my deep breathing, try to avoid all news of McGreevey, and pray for the Church and the "changing world."
— — —
Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her book "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture" was just published. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © copyright 2007 by Lynne Bundesen.
"The former governor, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, was officially received into the Episcopal faith on Sunday at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan, said the Rev. Kevin D. Bean, the church's vicar. A spokesman for the Chelsea section of the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan said Mr. McGreevey had been accepted as a student.
"The General Theological Seminary, the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church, was founded in 1817 and has been a New York City landmark since 1826. A leading center for theological education in the Anglican Communion, the seminary's primary mission is to educate and form leaders for the Church in a changing world," says the seminary's website.
Changing world is one thing, but McGreevey is, in My Humble Opinion, way beyond "changing world" — unless one calls his admitted cruising highways for a pickup gay encounter "changing world." Among other things, he is in court with his estranged about-to-be-ex-wife over child custody and he is, according to all reports, being less than a gentleman, less than Christian, if Christian still means loving your neighbor as yourself.
When I was baptized and confirmed into the Episcopal Church decades ago, "Christian" meant sincere, humble and orderly. Or it did to me at 12 years of age. The Church was a place of refuge, a place where people were kind to each other, where a young girl could find moral role models. But perhaps, in this "changing world" it is no longer important to have good role models for young people.
Yes, the church should be home to all people, not just virginal 12-year-olds. Whether a denomination should admit gays is up to that denomination. The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, said he and his partner want to be among the first couples in New Hampshire to unite officially under a civil unions measure soon to be signed into law. I would have no comment on that — one way or another. But I shudder to think of James McGreevey — publicity hound — as priest? Don't we all know more about him already than anyone should know about anyone? Two ex-wives, two daughters, lovers, lovers, lovers, faithless, faithless, faithless now wants to be a man of faith. Now is the time for Amazing Grace.
The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, will visit the United States in September to meet with bishops of the Episcopal Church, who last month declared an "urgent need" for such a meeting. The archbishop, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, has been struggling to keep the communion intact despite deep divisions over homosexuality, the authority of Scripture and the meaning of Anglicanism.
Until September I will practice my deep breathing, try to avoid all news of McGreevey, and pray for the Church and the "changing world."
— — —
Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her book "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture" was just published. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © copyright 2007 by Lynne Bundesen.