story behind this. Remember, the "free press" is nowhere free from pressure, even in the USA, but the pressure on a non-famous Nigerian reporter is likely to be very high, as in, threats of being fired and blackballed from the profession (at best). The report was just fine until some TEC member's search engine turned it up and the report spread over the blogosphere. To the average Nigerian, it shows the bishop as Tough On Sin. Once it reached the American blogosphere, the report needed to be contained to avoid bad publicity for the alphabet soup crowd of politically fashionable DC area churches under Nigerian oversight, and the Network dioceses threatening to leave after the US bishops meet this week and next.

I think that it is unknowable whether the bishop actually said the statement quoted in the original report. Maybe he did, maybe not, maybe he was political, maybe sincere. He's pretty obscure otherwise, no "track record".

by NancyP on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 03:29:48 PM EST

First- check to see if this is the real person.  It may not be.  I'd demand proof before I'd go any further- and until the proof is provided, consider your original post as accurate.

Also- note the use of such terms as "unbiblical acts"- a clear indication of the mindset of the writer.

The writer also says "to such an extent as was reflected in the report"- that indicates that the "Bishop" WAS condemning LGBT people.  Nice hedge there- but I still think that the writer is either a fraud or a liar.

One final thing- you might check to see if any of the other reporters said the same thing (clearly, there were more than one if you take this person as valid).


by ArchaeoBob on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:11:00 PM EST

Some other sites are talking about this. One points out the journo's email address is given as "@nannigeria.org", when it should be "@nanigeria.org". There's also a good discussion here.

by Richard Bartholomew on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 04:50:37 AM EST

While this particular quote may be inaccurate - who can really tell for sure? - there is absolutely no doubt that the Church of Nigeria's hierarchy holds the view that homosexuality is evil and needs to be eradicated.  Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of this particular corner of the Anglican communion, has said these kinds of things repeatedly.  From Abuja to Canterbury, he has pushed the point to the point where the Communion is struggling to avoid schism.  His view of homosexuality and the theology that it flows from form the backbone of the Nigerian church's hysteria over the ordination of Gene Robinson.

This particular story may be overblown or inaccurate and Orama may be misquoted, but have no doubt that the Church of Nigeria - at least its leadership - see homosexuality as an abomination that needs to be eradicated.
Jesus knew how to throw a party. We'll try to hold up our end of the bargain.
by jedwards on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 11:11:08 AM EST