76-15-A6
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1977
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Episcopal Controversy[edit]
Transcript[edit]You may have read in the papers about serious disagreements within the Episcopal Church. If you're an Episcopalian, you may even be in the thick of it. The outcome of the controversy could have implications that reach well beyond the two-and-a-half million member denomination. The controversy began to boil to the surface after the Church's convention in Minneapolis last September. At that meeting, the ordination of women was approved by a narrow margin, as was replacement of the Church's Book of Common Prayer. Since then efforts to remove any reference to gender from the Book of Psalms have added to the controversy. Underlying these issues is a more basic tug-of-war between two large segments of the Church. Most of the Church's hierarchy and an undetermined number of its lay members favor a Church that is active in social change. On the other side is a grouping of priests and another group of laymen concerned about what they consider to be politically radical tugs at the Church's foundation. This group believes the Church should stick to its traditional role of ministering to the conscience of each member, so that well-motivated individuals will go out and work for a better world. I think you'll agree that is a pretty fundamental disagreement. Since I'm not an Episcopalian, I won't step into the middle of their particular argument. Just the same, I can sympathize with the concerns some of them have. Recently, I received a copy of a book that has fanned the flames of controversy among Episcopalians. It's title is "Struggling with the System Probing Alternatives", but it is usually referred to simply as "the green book", because of the color of its cover. It's not an official Church publication, but was put out by a group called the Church & Society Network and The Witness, a magazine for Episcopalians. The guiding spirit behind "the green book" and its supporting organizations is the retired Bishop of Pennsylvania, Robert Dewitt. One of my staff associates called the publisher's office. The young woman he talked with said that the book was designed to be a study guide for small groups of people who were "grappling with current issues". She cited the ordination of women and --QUOTE -- "fighting the grand jury system" --UNQUOTE -- as two examples. The idea was that these little groups, or networks, would then move to a larger discussion of the American economic and social system. The young woman said, "There is no set pattern or approach to the study guide. The healthy thing is that people are talking." I'll bet they're talking! The book starts with the assumption that our system is a mess, and goes downhill from there. From beginning to end, it is an exercise in Marxist rhetoric, circa 1935. The Introduction to the Unit on "What's Wrong with Life in the U.S.?" says, "The truth of the matter is that one cannot expect to improve a system that is inherently irrational and unjust." --UNQUOTE. What can be done about it, as I'm sure you've guessed, is to toss the American System out and bring on socialism. Socialism is extolled on most every page. One writer even professes to see "Christ incognito at work in China today". Even the late Mao Tse-tung would be dismayed over that one. Capitalism, on the other hand, is vilified. There is enough guilt and blame between the covers to last an army of masochists a lifetime. As I said, I'm not an Episcopalian, but if I were I'd be concerned about this one-sided venture into political indoctrination. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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