Rainin' cats and dogs

Well, let's recount the interesting Christian news events from the last few days...

First, in the raining cats department: The 'pending schism threat level' in the Anglican Communion continues to rise. Over the weekend, Nigerian primate Peter Akinola snarfed up (technical term) several US churches that had already broken away from the Episcopal Church USA. I'd really like to meet this Akinola dude since he seems to have little tolerance for posturing and politicking.

The Anglican Communion has been held together recently with spit and duct tape while everyone waits for the Episcopal Church USA to step back from some of its more liberal actions. I'm not sure anyone with any sense is really expecting that course correction to happen... You know when you go to see fireworks how they fire a couple shells just to test the wind? Consider this missionary bishop appointment the first 'bomb bursting in the air', grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show.

Moving onto the dogs: Frank Beckwith, formerly the head of the Evangelical Theological Society, has left evangelicalism and returned to the Roman Catholic Church. Check out the opening salvo of his statement:

During the last week of March 2007, after much prayer, counsel and consideration, my wife and I decided to seek full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. My wife, a baptized Presbyterian, is going through the process of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This will culminate with her receiving the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. For me, because I had received the sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation all before the age of 14, I need only go to confession, request forgiveness for my sins, ask to be received back into the Church, and receive absolution.

It just seems weird to see someone fairly well respected in the broader Protestant tradition refer to returning to 'the Church' and receiving absolution. I'm assuming that absolution is for the sin of being Protestant? Anyway, read the full statement here.

Cats and dogs...