Strip Searches and the Transgender Officer

In today's upside down world everyone seems to be bending over backwards in an attempt to appease the "transgender" folks. Bending over backwards while upside down can lead severe disorientation which is what we see in the United Kingdom as reported by GBNews, 

Transgender police officers who were born male can still strip-search female suspects, according to official guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

The NPCC, the representative body for British police chiefs, states that once officers have transitioned, they can “search persons of the same gender as their own lived gender”.

The guidance was issued in December 2021 and was brought to light by Superintendent Cathy Larkman who described it as a “devastating blow to women’s trust in the police”.

Ms Larkman, who recently retired after serving for more than 30 years, said: “The more I read it, the more shocked I was....

The NPCC guidance reportedly says: “Chief Officers are advised to recognise the status of Transgender colleagues from the moment they transition, considered to be, the point at which they present in the gender with which they identify.

“Thus, once a transgender colleague has transitioned, they will search persons of the same gender as their own lived gender.”

The guidance adds: “If the refusal is based on discriminatory views, consideration should be given for the incident [to] be recorded as a non-crime hate incident unless the circumstances amount to a recordable crime...."

“This is a devastating blow to women's trust in the police. Women are not even an afterthought in this guidance — they are completely non-existent. Everything is geared towards the sensitivities of the officer doing the searching.

“They claim they are trying to be inclusive. But this isn't inclusive of women and it doesn't respect their sex.”

 Lord help us.

"We are no longer subject to a disciplinarian"

This Sunday's reading from Galatians 3:23-39 contains some of Paul's argument about the meaning of Old Testament "law" and its place in determining our salvation.

"Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise."

I have heard it said by former members of the Episcopal church's Executive Council that this verse can be taken to mean that we are free to make up our own rules.

Generalization of, "we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian" from its specific reference to having to follow Old Testament law in order to please God to mean freedom from following its moral codes is perhaps the most egregious error that those who "belong to Christ" can possibly make. After all, if we belong to Christ, we must strive to follow his rules, and He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.

When a Christian tries to justify some non-Biblical innovation by using, "We are no longer subject to a disciplinarian", you can try to reason with them by asking, "What are we subject to?" They will usually counter by saying, "The Holy Spirit", and we all know what that means. It means the spirit of the age, a spirit that as it runs counter to scripture can not be considered "holy" by any means.

So here we are slaves to Christ whose words have told us the discipline we might face if we deny Him.

"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 10:33

Now that is one serious disciplinarian. 

Churches and Justice Targeted = Not Newsworthy

 The non-news media here in the U.S. has been particularly not-busy when it comes to attacks on pro-lifers lately, but perhaps that has always been the case. This past weekend we saw absolutely zero coverage by the old mainstream Sunday news shows of the attempted assassination of one of our Supreme Court Justices. In addition, we have seen little U.S. coverage of the massacre of 40 men, women, and children inside a Nigerian Catholic church for which the Nigerian government blames the group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). And what about attacks on churches here in the U.S. since the Supreme Court documents about an abortion case came to light? 

Crickets.

Get Religion has a good critique of news non-coverage of real events here in the U.S.

As for the murder of Christians by Muslims in Africa or elsewhere, you have to search the web to learn about that subject. Sometimes you have to go to Jihad Watch for updates.

Anyone or any news that goes against the narrative of the day is to be silenced.

Such is the world in which we live, and who rules the world?

The Power of the Trinity

 Trinity Sunday is one of those days when we pause and celebrate the mystery of what God has revealed about himself in the Bible. Christians have grappled with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three in one throughout the centuries, and on this Sunday, many preachers will (usually the young assisting priest) stand up and try to present a homily about the mystery. 

One thing I look forward to on Trinity Sunday is the singing of The Lorica or "St. Patrick's Breastplate". In it we remember the power of the Trinity. Bind Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to yourself as a modern day St. Patrick when you go out into the world.

Back in 2009 my friend Wallace Hartley posted the verses that you do not get to sing (you will probably guess why) as well as a more literal interpretation of the lyrics (see below). The expurgated verses are bracketed and highlighted. Listen to the organ rendition by clicking on the video.

From Satucket.com's lectionary pages for today (please note the verses in brackets are not to be found in the 1982 Hymnal.

THE LORICA, OR, ST PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE

I bind unto myself today

the strong Name of the Trinity,

by invocation of the same,

the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,

by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;

his baptism in the Jordan river;

his death on cross for my salvation;

his bursting from the spiced tomb;

his riding up he heavenly way;

his coming at the day of doom:

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

of the great love of cherubim;

the sweet "Well done" in judgement hour;

the service of the seraphim;

confessors' faith, apostles' word,

the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;

all good deeds done unto the Lord,

and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

the virtues of the starlit heaven,

the glorious sun's life-giving ray,

the whiteness of the moon at even,

the flashing of the lightning free,

the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,

the stable earth, the deep salt sea,

around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

the power of God to hold and lead,

his eye to watch, his might to stay,

his ear to hearken to my need;

the wisdom of my God to teach,

his hand to guide, his shield to ward;

the word of God to give me speech,

his heavenly host to be my guard.

[Against the demon snares of sin,

the vice that gives temptation force,

the natural lusts that war within,

the hostile men that mar my course;

of few or many, far or nigh,

in every place, and in all hours

against their fierce hostility,

I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,

against false words of heresy,

against the knowledge that defiles

against the heart's idolatry,

against the wizard's evil craft,

against the death-wound and the burning

the choking wave and poisoned shaft,

protect me, Christ, till thy returning.]

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

the strong Name of the Trinity,

by invocation of the same,

the Three in One, and One in Three.

Of whom all nature hath creation,

eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

praise to the Lord of my salvation,

salvation is of Christ the Lord.

A more literal translation, by Kuno Meyer, is the following:

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgement of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of the Cherubim,

In the obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward,

In the prayers of patriarchs,

In prediction of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven;

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendour of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak to me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me,

[From snares of devils,

From temptation of vices,

From every one who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body

and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poising, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So there come to me abundance of reward.]

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye of every one who sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

"It was Pride that changed angels into devils"

"It was Pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as  angels."  - St. Augustine

Here we are in the month of June which is now called "Pride" month. The only people who are supposed to be so honored are proud LGBTQrsxyz rainbow flag draped (we hope draped) humans. St. Augustine would be aghast at some of the sights and sounds that we are being subjected to, but he probably would not be surprised. 

Webster lists the following as synonyms for pride:

ego, pridefulness, self-esteem, self-regard, self-respect

Notice how most of the synonyms are self-centered.

Thomas Aquinas wrote, 

"inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin (1,77) ... the root of pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule." (From Deadly Sins)

 I once did a year of caregiver training in which we were led by The Rule of Benedict. One of the most important lessons Benedict taught me was the exercise of humility. When we humbly approach the altar rail and fall on our knees to receive the Eucharist, we express that we are subject to God and his rule. I was first humbled when I came to an understanding of, and acknowledgement of, God's supremacy, and his love for me, a love would die for me as Jesus my Lord and Savior. We humans do not like to be "lorded over", especially we Americans, but as Christians, we know that we must bow down before the cross, and when we do, we do it not as "Proud Christians", but as an act of humility and out of our love for God. 

Today's version of "Pride" with its celebrations, parades, and nonstop media coverage is the opposite of God-centered humility. The type of pride on display this month elevates mankind's fallen nature to a place of highest honor. Note to everyone: Our fallen nature (which is displayed in all of its forms daily on the network news broadcasts) is nothing to be proud about. 

So, this month the Devil should be proud of his work as he seems to be winning the spiritual battle, but in the long run it is Jesus who will win, and it is Jesus who will gather his humble followers to him in a celebration unequaled by anything this Earth can offer. 

The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood

This week we celebrate the Holy Spirit's arrival in Acts 2:1-21,

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

“In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

   and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

   and your old men shall dream dreams.

 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

   in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

     and they shall prophesy.

 And I will show portents in the heaven above

   and signs on the earth below,

     blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

 The sun shall be turned to darkness

   and the moon to blood,

     before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

Truly a most important day for mankind. Where would we be without this event? 

 

P.S. Don't tell the prophet Joel but the Moon turned to blood last month here when  Pewsterspouse and I enjoyed a blood moon lunar eclipse which I caught with my telescope.

  

ELCA Trans Bishop Going Down

When I saw this at The Christian Post, I thought, "What did he/she/it do? 

 The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has called for the resignation of the liberal mainline denomination's first trans-identified bishop amid allegations of racism and other issues.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton issued a statement last Friday concluding that she will not file official charges against The Rev. Megan Rohrer, who was installed last year as the leader of the California-based ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. However, Eaton still believes that Rohrer should resign.

Last September, Rohrer became the first trans-identified individual to become a bishop in the ELCA. Previously, the bishop served as community chaplain coordinator for the San Francisco Police Department and pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Francisco.

After being installed, multiple allegations of racism and other unethical behavior surfaced, with the LGBT group Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries suspending Rohrer's membership.

The resolution cited Rohrer's alleged mistreatment and firing of Pastor Nelson Rabell-Gonzalez of Misión Latina Luterana, litigation surrounding Rohrer's actions as pastor of Grace Lutheran Evangelical Church of San Francisco and other issues.

Bishop Megan Rohrer fired what I assume was a Latino pastor. Is that why the Bishop is accused of racism? No details have been released. There is more, 

"Rohrer's approach to pastoral ministry is incompatible with the expectations of ordained clergy of the ELCA — a pattern of abuse, bullying, manipulation of facts, deceit, and character assassination," stated the resolution.

Abuse, bullying, manipulation of facts, deceit, and character assassination are required qualities in order to be a bishop in the liberal Episcopal organization. Why should the ELCA Lutherans be any different? 

"There are profound issues regarding the circumstances surrounding the end of Nelson Rabell-González' call to the Misión Latina Luterana community on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a day of such importance to that congregation and community,"

The woke crowd may have concluded that to be a racist act.

Eaton said in her Friday statement. "Unwise decisions — while they may be insensitive or in hindsight seen as misguided — are not automatically grounds for discipline," Eaton added.

 Then is there enough evidence for the ELCA to convene disciplinary proceedings? Apparently not,

"A high burden of proof exists to translate allegations into substantive findings that can be presented to a disciplinary body. In this situation that high burden was not able to be met.:

So that is why Bishop Megan was asked to resign, or in Lutheranababble,  

"Moreover, disciplinary proceedings that would be likely to arrive at a similar conclusion as my review are time-consuming and risk delay in the necessary healing processes that must occur."

Let's face it, the ELCA and Bishop Megan are going down because they/ze/zie/xyr have adopted a revisionist approach to Christianity in many ways, not the least of which is ELCA and this trans-identified bishop's interpretation of what God has to say about human sexuality and their/vis/xyr/hir application of that interpretation to ordained ministry.