Jul 01 2007
Before opening mouth, put brain in gear
What I’m going to say is risky, because it’s based on a press report, which may or may not be fully reliable. But according to the Daily Telegraph, (Hat tip to Libby Purves) the Bishop of Carlisle thinks God has sent floods on Britain in retaliation for the Blair government introducing Civil Partnerships in the UK.
“The sexual orientation regulations [which give greater rights to gays] are part of a general scene of permissiveness. We are in a situation where we are liable for God’s judgment, which is intended to call us to repentance.”
He expressed his sympathy for those who have been hit by the weather, but said that the problem with “environmental judgment is that it is indiscriminate”.
Let’s see, Parliament passes Civil Partnerships, and they run comfortably for a year during which further rights are introduced. Then God wakes up and says to himself, “O ho! Do you know, I hadn’t spotted that bit of legislation, and all those gays and lesbians have been getting hitched for the last year. I think I’d better send some storms along. What’s that you say, London, Manchester and Brighton have seen most of the civil partnerships. Oh dear, I left them alone and flooded nearly everywhere else. Never mind. Better aim next time!”
Well, thank God the Bishop of Carlisle is there to explain the connection, because not many people would have spotted that. “The Lord,” said the bishop, “is so upset by it all that his hand is shaking with rage, and so his aim is a bit off.” (No, sorry, I made that last bit up – but I have to say so, because I’m not sure you could tell the difference.)