There were anti-gay demonstrators on the campus at lunchtime today. To the Americans it was deja vu, but the British press folk were offended by the blatant Bible-bashing. The unidentified group held a huge sign saying 'Jesus' and a number of plackards with lengthy and unreadable Bible verses. They were pussycats in comparison with Fred Phelps and his family, condemning only the 'homosexual lobby' and not the Anglican Church as Fred does. The demonstration violated university policies and they were required to leave.

Thursday, July 30, 1998

Today, on the front page of the (London) Times was the headline: In it, Bishop Spong was accused of racism in his criticism of the blatant heterosexism of the African bishops. Sitting in the press room, I got a bit of insight into how front page sausage is made in the (London) Times. It began with a headline in the Church of England News which used the headline, "Spong Accuses Africans of Witchcraft." On Wednesday morning Ruth had announced to the press room that her editor wanted an article on Spong's racism. After much discussion in the press room, it was determined that the bishop had never used the term "witchcraft." He had used the term animism. Nevertheless, the consensus of the press room was against her. A few hours later, Ruth's request for an interview with a bishop from Kenya was granted. Ruth and David left the room to talk with him and a few minutes later I joined them. The Bishop was quite clear; he thought homosexuality was a sin and that those who supported it , like Bishop Spong, were also sinners. He felt that Spong's apology was inadequate, but not as an apology per se. What he felt was needed was repentence by the bishop and others with his beliefs. In answer to Ruth's question, "Did you feel the remarks he made about Africans were racist?", the bishop responded "No." Ruth gasped, but asked again, "Don't you feel that there was racism in that remark?" Again, the bishop said, "No." David was equally shocked, and said, "Well perhaps we understand the term racism differently." Nevertheless, the article focussed on racism. That's what Ruth's editor, who works for Rupert Murdoch, wanted.

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