Arab Nation Refuses to Admit Akinola

Finally. Somebody has refused to allow Peter Akinola to wreak havoc in their country.

Reuters is reporting that the nation of Jordan has denied Akinola permission to enter to attend GAFCON, the right-wing conference that purports to plan the Global Anglican Future of schism, America-bashing and homophobia.

GAFCON (Fr. Jake calls it Gaffe-Con) has proven to be one disaster after another for its organizers. First it was supposed to happen in Jerusalem—but the Anglican Bishop didn’t want it there, saying it would inflame Israeli-Palestinian relations in that sensitive part of the world. Then they moved the parley to Jordan, with a “pilgrimage” to Jerusalem tacked onto the end. Now that hasn’t worked either; Jordan won’t let Akinola in.

Why? They want to know his role in an anti-Muslim riot in Nigeria in 2004 which killed 660 people. This was in response to an anti-Christian riot two months earlier in the town of Yelwa, in which 70 Christians were murdered. Supposedly some of the Christian rioters wore name tags identifying themselves as members of the Christian Association of Nigeria, which Akinola headed until he was tossed out earlier this year.

He was asked about all this by a reporter for The Atlantic magazine, grinned and said, “No comment.”

This is the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria, who’s made his entire name and reputation by trying to purge the Episcopal Church of homosexuals, or barring that, to steal as many buildings and altar hangings as he can get his hands on.

Jordan said no thanks. The United States should likewise prevent him from entering. It appears the man’s a criminal.

The American homophobes who have cast their lot with him (in Virginia, Illinois and elsewhere) are cruising for a bruising. Akinola has no moral stature. He isn’t a leader of the self-proclaimed “orthodox Bible believers,” much less the second most powerful man in Anglicanism; he’s an outlaw, a pretender, a usurper.

Lately American schismatics seem to agree; they’re all running the other direction these days, to Argentina and the Diocese of the Southern Cone, which offers homophobia without the anti-Islamic violence.

Still, it’s all for naught; you can’t build a church in America anymore where the product is anti-Gay; the market rejects it. This isn’t a matter of “trendiness,” as the GAFfers like to claim; it’s a deep-seated conviction, born in American high schools, Why’s Everyone Picking on Tommy? What Did Tommy Ever Do to You?

The GAFfers are crazy-delusional. You can’t take the staid, solemn ritual of the Episcopal Church, overlay it with snarky homo-hatred and expect anyone but old people to show up. You sure as heck can’t put an outlaw in charge and think you now rival the Queen of England. It just doesn’t work that way.

This will all be over soon, and Tommy will have more fans than ever.++