Dear Friends,
I read with grief and disappointment the statement released by the Vatican this morning declaring that the Roman Catholic Church will not recognize or allow church blessings of same-sex unions because they are inherently “not licit.” The statement goes further to say this stance is reaffirmed at this time because “God cannot bless sin.” It is all a terrible disaffirmation of humanity which we claim was created in God’s image and is inherently “good,” and my heart goes out to all who read this news as one more way some leaders in the Church have foisted humiliating pain and oppression upon a subset of people meant to separate them in spiritually abusive ways and that add to violence and rights abuses. I regret this, I reject this, and I write to say, on behalf of the people of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, I am sorry for the harm this latest statement will cause. The Church can and must do better.
By Patti Dozier
patti.dozier@gaflnews.com Dec 11, 2020
Balfour
THOMASVILLE â Because of a fascination with how things got started, the subject of R.C. Balfour III s 10th book was born.
About 18 months ago, Thomasville resident Balfour began writing The Major Events of Human History with his son, David M. Balfour, also a Thomasville resident. He did the research. I did the composing, the elder Balfour said. I just started about the beginning of time, Balfour said, pointing out that no two people would pick the same events.
His choices are personal â based on his faith and interests.
Balfour, 93, writes about God, Abraham and the coming of Christ.