Is race playing a factor in the decision making process to replace Rowan Williams as the next Archbishop of Canterbury? it would seem so.
Some of the press reports and quotes coming out are pretty bad. At least one bishop anonmymously compared a Ugandan born Archbishop to a “tribal chief.” And he meant it as a bad thing, in case you were wondering.
Here’s the report from The Vancouver Sun and then I’ll give my ever so brilliant thoughts after:
The early favourite to become the next Archbishop of Canter-bury – spiritual leaders of the world’s Anglicans – is the victim of “naked racism” by critics who are trying to besmirch his name, one of his closest sup-porters said.
The outspoken Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, was born in Uganda and is the only black bishop in the Church of England. A former aide, who is about to become the church’s director of communications, said there was a “stark contrast” between the way Sen-tamu was portrayed and the treatment of other bishops.
“At its best, the besmirching of John Sentamu has revealed that strand of snobbery which views outsiders as lacking class, diplomacy or civility – in other words ‘not one of us,'” said Rev. Arun Arora. “At worst, it has elicited the naked racism which still bubbles under the surface in our society, and which is exposed when a black man is in line to break the chains of history.”
Arora’s accusation of an “anonymous whispering” campaign against the archbishop has the potential to be hugely damaging to the church. It recalls the last time the Church sought a new Archbishop of Canterbury, in 2002, when the Michael Nazir-Ali, then Bishop of Rochester, was described as a “Paki Papist” by an unidentified cleric.
Sentamu has spoken in the past about his experience of racism but stressed that any abuse came from outside the church. However, two bishops who spoke to the Sunday Telegraph on condition of anonymity drew, unprompted, on Sentamu’s African birth in their criticism – one likening the archbishop’s temperament to that of an “African chief.”
He said: “I think Sentamu is clearly going to be a very strong front-runner, although I think there are also the people who are not quite sure that he is suitable in terms of the way he behaves, because he is quite tribal and the African chief thing comes through.
“My preferred candidate would be [the Bishop of] Norwich, who is very level-headed, sensible and would actually do the job well and has a lot more kind of stability. You wouldn’t know where you were with Sentamu, whereas you would with Norwich.”
The second bishop, who is retired, said Sentamu had some “outrageous moments” which had been “balanced” out by Rowan Williams.
He added: “There is some-thing in Sentamu which retains his African views and approach, which can be at one time an asset and another time can be a problem.”
The retired bishop said Sentamu’s African background was apparent in “his understanding around issues of human sexuality.” Sentamu has opposed British government proposals for same-sex marriage.
The Sunday Telegraph gave both bishops the opportunity to put their comments on the record but they declined. Both denied their comments were racist.
Their words will be seized on by supporters of Sentamu, who fear a whispering campaign against him. He was immediate favourite to become Archbishop of Canterbury when Williams announced his departure last month, but is now believed in third place, behind the Bishop of Coventry and the Bishop of Norwich.
You see, it’s actually pretty blatant. Tribal chief? Seriously. Yeah, there’s definitely racism there but it’s not JUST racism. You see what it’s about is actually same sex marriage. The bishops quoted anonymously fear Sentamu’s “African views.” What they’re really saying is that no civilized person can be against same sex marriage. They’re saying traditional marriage is an “African view” while they obviously hold the civilized view that anything goes in sexuality.
I would say that this kind of openly racist talk terribly wounds the Church of England. But at this point, it’s more like desecration of a corpse.
April 23, 2012 at 4:08 pm
"I would say that this kind of openly racist talk terribly wounds the Church of England. But at this point, it's more like desecration of a corpse."
Made me laugh…
April 23, 2012 at 11:29 pm
The Church of England, mother of liberal Anglicans and nurse to the tolerant, charged with racism? How can this be?!
I thought all relativists were kind and welcoming folk who didn't see things in black and white, just shades of inoffensive grey. I'm gonna have to rethink my entire worldview on this one.
April 24, 2012 at 2:54 am
They don't like the Archbishop because he isn't relativist enough, he seems to still acknowledge objective moral truth as fulfilled in Christ. Note the reasons given for backing Norwich – one would never think he was talking about a leader in faith and morals.
April 24, 2012 at 6:35 am
the besmirching of John Sentamu has revealed that strand of snobbery which views outsiders as lacking class, diplomacy or civility
So…in other words: Anglicanism.
April 24, 2012 at 6:01 pm
🙂
April 24, 2012 at 9:24 am
The problem with the "African chief" thing is not that it's really racist—Africans really do treat clergy with much the same deference as chiefs—it's that whoever said it is so provincial as to think it's a bad thing. An African chief knows his rank comes only from doing his duty for his people—which translates, for a clergyman, as being expected to preach the Gospel.
Maybe the Church of England would still exist as a viable community outside Africa if its clergy had the mindset of "chiefs"—give me Anglo-Saxon earls and thanes any day over the C of E's milksop leadership.
April 24, 2012 at 1:17 pm
It's just true. The Africans have not adopted the modern European misunderstand of human sexuality, and are rough in expressing it. Hence, to a modern and erring British Anglican (or general European) they are backwards generally, as a race and culture, with few exceptions. So, what you and the article are calling racism here, is actually just plain truth. The difference between us and them is that we should think it is a good difference between our peoples and continents where it is our race that has generally gone awry.
April 24, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Who cares what's going on in a protestant group? Why waste time and energy on something like this?
April 24, 2012 at 6:05 pm
The Vancouver Sun on Anglican racism….. Really? I wish you a speedy recovery.
April 24, 2012 at 6:11 pm
The Brits are wary of commiting obamicide too.