Rev. Rod Bower from the Anglican Parish of Gosford, as part of the unceasing Anglican striving after inclusion, relevance and trendiness, likes to put irritating signs up outside his church. This time he is blessing burqas; at least it makes a change from blessing same sex marriages.
It’s easy to see why Bower wants to bless burqas: he dresses in one himself – he was considerate enough to remove the headpiece for this photo:
From here:
A Central Coast man of God is continuing his crusade as a man of the people, calling on parishioners to “bless the burqa” as a campaign to ban facial coverings comes once more before Parliament.
Archdeacon Rod Bower of the Anglican Parish of Gosford has gained a measure of online fame with his pithy, popular church signs, which are always a hit on social media.
The latest offering shows Fr Bower standing in full ceremonial religious dress by the sign, which reads “Bless The Burqa”.
“I’m all for the religious (and non religious) freedom to wear what you like in public,” Fr Bower wrote on Facebook.
What eludes the Rev Bower is that if many of the women who do wear a burqa had the freedom of choice he thinks he is championing, they wouldn’t be seen dead in one.
As a reward for his innovative work in using church signs to explore hitherto untapped veins of clerical folly, he has been made an archdeacon.
