Presby-tear-ians

Last Monday, I drew up a list of 46 things I needed to do. By the end of the week, it was down to 30. This morning, I drafted a list of 42. I think not having a job just means I procrastinate about different things. But there’s no pay involved. LOL

All of my busyness has distracted me from some major news stories on our little island. While I was hiking with my guests, the citizens of the Republic of Ireland voted by a 2-1 margin to legalise abortion up to 12 weeks, repealing a constitutional amendment pushed through in 1985 when the Catholic church had more sway than it does today. This follows on the 2015 vote legalising gay marriage in the republic.

Meanwhile in Ulster...
"The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has adopted a new policy that means anyone in a same-sex relationship cannot be a full member of the Church. It also means their children cannot be baptised.

"The move comes after the Church cut ceremonial ties with the Church of Scotland due to its more liberal attitude to same-sex relationships.”

From my time among the non-subscribers, the “liberal” wing of the Presbyterian church, I knew that the fundamentalists had gotten hold of the mother church. And this vote is the public outworking of that. As the good Presbyterians saith: "In light of our understanding of scripture and the Church's understanding of a credible profession of faith, it is clear that same-sex couples are not eligible for communicant membership nor are they qualified to receive baptism for their children. ... We believe that their outward conduct and lifestyle is at variance with a life of obedience to Christ.”

FFS. The fundamentalist wing of the Presbyterian church--which is in charge--is entwined with the Democratic Unionist Party, which has prevented votes on same-sex marriage or a law updating the 1861 law governing abortion. The good news is the majority of Presbyterians disagree with both their church hierarchy and their politicians. The bad news is the politics here are tribal. People who don’t agree with the DUP keep voting them in because they’re afraid that if they don’t, Sinn Fein--the nationalist party--will get in. The DUP takes a truculent stance on a wide range of matters--Brexit, climate change, anything with a whiff of modernity. Their policies are bad for Northern Ireland on so many levels. I hope and pray they suffer a backlash among supporters who realise it’s time to desert the sinking DUP ship.
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