Desmond Tutu: a sane voice.

Archbishop Tutu has finally broke the chronic and painful silence on the Gay issue and other issues affecting the global communion. This is a much-needed opinion. He criticised many Anglican leaders in the Africa continent about being obsessed with homosexuality in the church and that they should focus on the more pressing issues that are affecting their congregations such as AIDS, war, poverty. The church is neglecting its flock and not focusing the attention of the world on the most desperate situations many Africans face.

He also was out spoken about his own national church that of Zimbabwe that is seemingly towing the line of the now despotic Mugabe. Whilst the world has also seemingly ignored the crisis there, its church leaders have done little to voice concerns. Zimbabwe has gone from the breadbasket of Africa to being unable to feed itself. Perhaps this is an overly critical appraisal of the Zimbabwean church because of the threat of violence. However where are the cries of outrage from the AU and the African Churches. They are forgetting about the real needs of their followers and getting embroiled in this seemingly endless debate on sex.

The Church needs to remember what its real issues are and I hope it addresses these at its Synod, and that the headlines it creates focuses attention on those in real need.