15 February 2009

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church

Today's Scripture : Proverbs 8:1, 22-31 Colossians 1:15-20 S. John 1: 1-14Today: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church School/ Bible Study; 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion; EP 6 p.m.

This Week: Tues - Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers. Please bring in your Palm Crosses to make ashes.

Sexagesima

O Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

On the whole negotiators are actively concerned that the assumptions of a Christian society with its corresponding values are maintained without dissolution by the consequences of modernisation, especially through the Bill of Rights and the provision of a Human Rights Commission. I am not sure that this is the case, I think the arguments have been more from a societal morals, values and traditions which include Christianity but not exclusive to it. Either way none of us are in a position to accurately predict the outcome completely

 

The Human Rights Committee, while being probably in general agreement with 1., is bound by the terms of its creation to the particular lodestar of the Human Rights Conventions to which the Cayman Islands are considered to be a party along with the U.K. This overriding loyalty sometimes produces conflicts with the position of the other parties to the negotiation, and this is at the root of the perceived differences over section 16 of the Bill of Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities. Agree

 

Part of the NGO representation, namely the CMA and the SDA, considers itself duty bound to take the leading role in the preservation of a Christian society. Their constituencies and their advisers alike all heavily depend on this representation for this protection, and the delegates feel morally compelled not to let down their guard, especially as they are aware of many failures in this regard in other societies, notably including Canada and the United Kingdom itself. Agree but would broaden the above from preservation of a Christian society to include Caymanian society as both are intricately intervowen at least in perception of many

 

The PPM Cabinet and the UDP are both aware of the voting weight of the constituency supporting this part of the NGO representation, as well as being substantially in agreement with the position. The PPM adjusted their modernisation proposals to take this into account (among other changes). The UDP has essentially said, "Our position is the Churches’ position." Agree

 

The CMA and the SDA do not seek to destroy or undermine anything that is good either in the Conventions or in the determinations of the Human Rights Committee. However, they consider that the unalloyed values of a Christian society are the true ethical and moral basis of what is good in these determinations, and not man-made Conventions. The man-made system of Rights conventions is an incomplete structure, because insofar as they are without divine foundation, or are promulgated in the name of humanity alone, they omit the essential categories of Relationships and Responsibilities, which are fundamentally derived from the relationship that God by nature and grace builds into His Creation (His created beings). In particular, human society is impossible without the functioning of Responsibilities and Relationships, which are at the heart of a mutually agreed possession of Rights. Such a mutually agreed or voluntary possession and conferral of Rights cannot derive from the enforcement process that a "Human Rights culture" must advocate. Agree

 

(Conversation is continued)

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon: Ecclesiastes 7: 1-14, John 19:1-16, 2 Tim 4:1-8

Tues: Eccles 7; 15-end, John 19: 17-30, 2 Tim 4:9-end

Wed: Eccles 8, John 19:31-end, Titus 1

Thurs: Eccles 9, John 20: 1-10, Titus 2

Fri : Eccles 11: 1-8, John 20: 11-18, Titus 3

Sat: Eccles 11:9 - 12:end, John 20: 19-end, Philemon

NEXT SUNDAY: 2 Kings 2: 1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, S. Mark 9: 2-9