Either/Or for the Episcopal Church - Mexican Prospects Up in Heavens

Today's NYT: Either/Or for the Episcopal Church, Mexican Prospects Up in Heavens, Maureen Dowd, T.L. Friedman

Most Rev. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury proposed yesterday a plan that could force the US Episcopal Church to give up either the gay bishops and same-sex unions or the full membership in the Anglican Communion. The plan suggests to ask each of the Episcopal provinces (the geographical divisions of the Church) to make the choice. This way some provinces would keep full status as constituent churches, while others would become churches in association.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primum inter pares within the Anglican Communion. He does not have the authority to dictate his decisions (as the Pope does in the Catholic Church) - however this plan is the most solid official step yet in a long march toward schism.

So, either gay bishops only in the closet, or out of the Communion. Out of the closet and in the Communion do not work together. The Archbishop's proposal was greeted with satisfaction by conservative leaders in the US Episcopal Church, while liberal leaders expressed critical views. What would you expect?

(Church in America)

Okay, that's with the Church. Now, going to world politics, Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the front-runner in Mexico's presidential race. Is Mr. Lopez Obrador kind of Hugo Chavez? No, he does not have the military stamp of El Comandante. Then, is he kind of Evo Morales? No, he does not have the indigenist roots of the Bolivian president. Then, is he kind of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva? No, he's not a born compromiser to know the value of 10 percent. Then what? Well, Mr. Lopez Obrador has much higher prospects - his model seems to be located in no other place that in Heavens. Here's the story.

Also in today's NYT the op-eds of Maureen Dowd (who claims to not have any Sympahy for the Devil) and Thomas L. Friedman (speaking about environmental issues in Latin America).

And it's the birthday of Jean Jacques Rousseau. Be well, Duke of Kent, and keep in touch.