This has been my week in terms of finding delightful interfaith initiatives around the world. First, I posted about the imam in Paris who had sound advice for the French episcopate. Now, thanks to a forward from a friend in Oxford with a special love of Russia, I’ve come across this delightful article from last week about initiatives between the Russian Orthodox and Russian Muslims. If that doesn’t sound like a match made in heaven . . . these two found out just how much they had in common when some sodomites tried to have a parade. This was probably my favorite passage from the article (except for every other part of the article which was also my favorite):

Earlier this week Chief Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin warned that Russia’s Muslims would stage violent protests if the march went ahead.

“If they come out on to the streets anyway they should be flogged. Any normal person would do that - Muslims and Orthodox Christians alike . . .”

The cleric said the Koran taught that homosexuals should be killed because their lifestyle spells the extinction of the human race and said that gays had no human rights.

Somebody needs to remind the Chief Mufti about the language of tolerance and compassion! By the looks of it, though, the Chief Mufti and the Russian Orthodox episcopate can do the tolerance training course together. It would seem that the Russian Orthodox have yet to see that very powerful movie, Brokeback Mountain. I’m sure that if they saw two beautiful man-lovers on screen, they would drop all of these harsh, hurtful words:

The Russian Orthodox Church has called [the parade of the sodomites] “the propaganda of sin.” Bishop Daniil of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk yesterday condemned the plans as a “cynical mockery” and likened homosexuality to leprosy.

Last I checked, saying things like this was an imprisonable offense in England. When half the “episcopate” and “clergy” of the Church of England would deserve to be flogged, I can understand why.

As crazy as Russia is, doesn’t she yet give us some hope for civilization? In any case, it’s clear that they have a flair for good hats in Russia.

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